The Cobram Tigers will enter the 2023 Murray Football League season the same way it ended the 2022 campaign — with John Brunskill at the helm.
Announced via the club’s Facebook page on Friday morning, Brunskill will remain coach of the Tigers next season and after a successful 2022, it is clear why.
Securing the minor premiership and a grand final berth, Brunskill has overseen an impressive period at the club.
When asked why he was going around again, the Tigers mentor said one just had to look at what happened this year.
“We were three points away from winning a grand final,” Brunskill said.
“We’ll retain probably 90 per cent of our players and we’re looking at bringing a couple in so exciting times still ahead.
“That’s probably the reason.”
While many coaches would use a heartbreaking grand final defeat as their main motivation the following season, Brunskill said he would not focus on it a great deal.
“We’ll use it at times,” he said.
“We’ll just use it to improve with our young kids, I think we’ve seen a fair bit of improvement this year, our average age is about 20-21 years old so there’s still a lot of improvement in those young kids.
“That’ll be more our motivation.”
The Tigers will come back firing in the 2023 season, and with plenty of young talent the club is sure to be competitive for years to come.
Not only did the club’s under-14 side win its grand final, but the under-17s ended the season in sixth and the reserves fourth.
“From where we were sort of eight to 10 years ago the club’s improved a hell of a lot,” Brunskill said.