He’s going around again.
Mooroopna supporters breathed a sigh of relief on Monday evening with the announcement senior football coach John Lamont will remain at the club for season 2023.
The Cats, who have not made the Goulburn Valley League finals since 2014, currently sit in fourth spot on the ladder, with Lamont helping to build the side on and off the field.
Lamont said he had enjoyed his time at the club and was looking forward to continuing the work that’s under way.
“I’ve probably been a bit slack on the announcement, I was probably always going again,” Lamont said.
“With 11 games last year and 16 this year we’re only 27 games in so to speak, we’ve made a lot of changes and got a good crew of young blokes that are committed to improvement and success.
“I’m very much enjoying it and looking forward to continuing I suppose is how I’m looking at it.”
Lamont said keeping the club relevant in the community was a key part of his goal, with the aim of providing a place where young people can come in and transition from underage to senior players important.
“It’s more the building block things, a good environment and good coaching,” he said.
“Footy is in a bit of trouble in regards to retention of players, players wishing to play, volunteers at clubs, that’s all well documented.
“So we want to make sure that the kids who are coming into the Mooroopna Junior Football Club enjoy the environment and have got a senior club that they can look up to.”
Club president Bill Dowling said with COVID-19 interruptions, next pre-season would be Lamont’s fourth at the helm.
“We believe that we’ve created a very good environment and everyone’s still learning and developing,” Dowling said.
“We’re really excited with how far we’ve come so far and where we’re continuing to go.”
Dowling said more continued improvement was the goal for next year, with Lamont ‘‘invested’’ in the club.
“He (Lamont) has been fantastic for the club,” he said.
“He has indicated to me all the way along that he’s really invested in our club and we’re all looking forward to what sort of return the group can generate.”
Alongside Lamont, assistant coach Darren Ogier has indicated his intentions of coaching with the Cats once again in season 2023, with Dowling confident the whole coaching group will be on board next year.