Despite the fact season 2022 is yet to reach its conclusion, Goulburn Valley League clubs Seymour and Euroa have already cast their eye forward to 2023, recommitting to their respective football and netball coaches.
Much-loved Seymour locals and long time members of the club Ben Davey and Ellie O’Sullivan, will lead the Lions’ senior football outfit and the A-grade netball, respectively.
It will be Davey’s fourth season at the helm, while O’Sullivan takes the top job for her second year after impressing in her first season as in the role.
Old rival Euroa then quickly followed suit in locking in its coaching panel, with football coach Scott Rowan set to return after another top four finish and Ellie Warnock coming back after leading the Magpies’ resurgence up the A-grade netball ladder in 2022.
Euroa president Scott Watson said it was an easy decision to reappoint Rowan and Warnock given the success they had achieved on and off the field this season.
“We are really delighted to have the opportunity to reappoint Scott and Ellie along with a number of other coaches throughout the club,” Watson said.
“The club is in a really good space at the moment, we have got some wonderful support from the entire community and we just figured it was the right time to lock them in for next year.”
For Seymour, its senior football team missed out on the finals by 0.19 per cent in 2022, finishing the season in seventh spot with a record of 11-7.
But with so much young, local talent at his disposal, Davey said it was an easy decision to recommit to the club for another season.
“I was very keen to go around again. I live in the town and love everything about the club, so I was always going to come back,” Davey said.
“The best thing about our club is that it is so community-orientated. We have massive numbers with players, supporters and volunteers, and with six of our nine teams in finals, the club is in a great spot.
“The senior boys are filthy about missing finals, but we will move on quick. Our depth is great and I’m confident we will be back bigger and better next year and beyond.”
While on the netball court, O’Sullivan could not have asked for a better start to her coaching tenure, leading Seymour to the A-grade minor premiership with an imposing record of 15-3.
O’Sullivan said she was thrilled to be leading the A-grade side again in 2023.
“It is really exciting (to re-sign). I’ve really enjoyed this season of netball and the best part about it has been the group of netballers that we have at the club,” O’Sullivan said.
“It was a very easy decision for me to coach again next season. The connection we’ve been building, it’s super exciting and I cannot wait to keep it going into the future.”