Rooney enjoying a new lease on life at Coburg
While the 2015 season saw the Coburg Football Club continue to make significant strides in its second year since becoming a non-aligned club in the VFL competition, it was clear that there were a few aspects lacking in order for the club to keep on moving forward.
It was evident that a football manager in a part time capacity needed to be appointed to make things much easier around the club in regards to liaison, as well as much more experience and guidance for the clubs football department in order to give the club the best possible outcome.
Enter Ron Rooney, boasting one of the best reputations in local sport in Melbourne’s North West. Fresh from finishing off a two year stint with VAFA side Brunswick NOBSPC as its senior coach, Ron had planned to step away from football all together in 2016.
However, a long time old mate of his had other ideas.
Senior Coach Peter German approached Ron in September 2015 about the prospect of him coming to the Coburg Football Club to not only remain involved in football, however also to give him the opportunity to fill a much needed role different to his coaching, at a level above local.
Having thought long and hard about the proposition put to him by German, Ron eventually agreed to become the clubs newly appointed Football Operations Manager, as well the clubs Director of Coaching, after initially being apprehensive to commit to the role.
“I was hesitant at first after 26 years of coaching local footy, I thought I was finished with Footy- some would say I ran out of clubs to coach! In the end I am here due to the persistence of Pete, Hasto and Barrey who kept on reinforcing to me how much I would enjoy working with a group of coaches and players who had a similar passion and commitment to me to the game that at times was not always evident at local level much to my frustration. I am glad to say they were right. It has been fantastic working with such committed professional group of players so eager to learn and being a part of a coaching structure and support system you could only dream about at local level.”
Ron began his career in the juniors with Essendon District Football League side Jacana. He later played out his senior career with Epping, Broadmeadows and EDFL club Aberfeldie as well as WRFL side Sunshine, whom he later coached. However his biggest impact came with Oak Park. Ron went on to be named as the coach of the century, leading them to its first senior premiership in 1983 in the B Grade competition of the EDFL as the clubs playing coach. Ron was also a four time best and fairest winner at J.P Faulkner Reserve. Ron would later coach EDFL sides Pascoe Vale, Tullamarine, Airport West as well as Coburg Districts. A School Physical Education Co-Ordinator, Ron has also been involved with Cricket Victoria and Australia with regard to fitness game development and coaching.
Having being in the role for three months, Ron has enjoyed his time at the club so far. “Very much impressed as mentioned above by the structure and support systems put in place over the last three years to create an environment that provides the opportunity for all players, coaches support and administration staff to grow both the football wise, professionally and as individuals. More than anything else the real TEAM aspect that runs throughout the whole club – Together Everyone Achieves More – is a creed that is very much evident in my short time here.”
With Ron’s arrival at Piranha Park, aside from German he re-unites with Development Coach Marcus Hastings (Brunswick NOBSPC) and Senior Team Manager and Property Steward Graham Barr (Oak Park/Tullamarine/Pascoe Vale), as well as one of his former school pupils, Adam Paterson. While being familiarised with those names once again, he has made an easy transition into his new role. “The beauty of football is the quality people you meet along the journey and with so many quality people in one place at one time they have made it very easy to fit into the club. If I had to assemble a dream team to set up a football club my first draft choices were all at Coburg having arrived there over the last three years or so it was a no brainer coming on board.”
As previously mentioned, Rooney is entering a completely new phase in regards to roles within football. However is well embracing the new challenge that has been put to him. “This role is similar to what I have done in the past in that it is about building relationships it just I have to do it with so many more players and support staff. Different in that playing lists have to be culled rather than continually chasing players and/or trying to get them to train. The real difference I believe is that I now have a role that enables me to oversee all that happens at a club at all levels. Hopefully the difference I can make is to ensure that all the little things that should happen actually are ticked off to ensure the big things come about as a consequence. Too often these one percenters are not attended to when you are trying to be all things to all people at local level where support structures are very light on.”
Looking ahead to the 2016 season, Rooney is eagerly anticipating the beginning of the home and away season, like most others at Coburg going into its third year as a stand-alone club. “I am really looking forward to seeing how we compete against our opposing sides – a mixture of stand-alone clubs and the full time footballers on AFL lists. Also excited about plotting the development of our first year players that will occur as a result of the program being implemented at Coburg by our team of coaches and support staff throughout the year.”
With the club boasting a relatively young coaching group in 2016, Ron’s experience as a coach spanning across many decades as well as his networking will be crucial for them throughout the season, especially those beginning in the VFL system. “It will vary from coach to coach for some it will be mentoring them through their AFL coach accreditation requirements. For others hopefully I will become a sounding board or a resource to tap into my AFL contacts/literature so that they themselves continue along the continual improvement spectrum we have prided ourselves on providing to all on our playing list.”
While Ron is still getting to know the playing list at the club, he has been impressed by some of what he has seen from the playing group throughout the pre-season, however also the standards that have been set especially by some of the clubs leaders. “At this early stage it’s very hard to single out individuals in regards to what they will achieve playing wise until the games actually start but there is an old axiom; no player has ever had a break out season without doing a full pre-season, therefore the work when players think no one is watching I believe will be borne out once the season proper starts one way or another. So far I have been very impressed by the leadership qualities shown on and off the track by the likes of Danny Younan, Tom Goodwin, Daniel Venditti, Mark Orr and Ahmed Saad that has set a benchmark for the playing list to strive towards in 2016.”
Coburg General Manager Craig Lees said Ron was a fantastic acquisition for our club. “The wealth of experience that Ron brings to our club is invaluable, his coaching and development philosophies are first class, and our players and coaches will benefit from his experience immensely. Ron was a target of Peter’s for 24 months, and there is no doubt that the elite environment of VFL Football will be a new and exciting challenge to his coaching, and now his management career.”
Ron’s footballing networks wide throughout the North West
of Melbourne as well as in regional areas throughout country Victoria will no doubt be a huge asset for the Coburg Football Club in terms of its recruiting- not just in terms of the playing list, but also in terms of staff members, whether it be coaching or administration. His networking with business people as well through his involvement of sports coaching through numerous decades will is another major asset to the club, increasing its potential sponsorship options. Ron’s experiences over many years will only no doubt continue to ensure to make the Coburg Football Club a much more professional environment that what it has even been before, but will also be a great resource for everyone involved at the club, whether they be a staff member, coach or player.
