Adelaide Footy League, Tea Tree Gully playing-coach Alex McKay steps down from coaching role

A highly-revered local footy star will relinquish his coaching responsibilities at the season’s end. See why he made the decision.

A revered local footy star will step down as playing-coach at the season’s end as his club misses out on finals for a fourth season in a row.

Tea Tree Gully champion and two-time Adelaide Footy League division one best and fairest Alex McKay returned to the club this season to coach and play the A Grade side, but said he lost focus and enjoyment for playing.

The highly-revered leader came to the conclusion he wanted to relinquish his coaching responsibilities on Thursday night.

“I had a meeting with the footy department and leadership group where we concluded I probably need to make a decision on how I want to attack next season,” McKay said.

“I had a good think about it and just concluded that I’ve probably got three or four years of good footy left and I want to enjoy it, I want to get back to really enjoying playing.”

Alex McKay was a key part of Tea Tree Gully’s 2018 premiership run. Picture: Brenton Edwards

Arriving back in Adelaide with his family after time in Queensland’s QAFL with Labrador, McKay threw himself into his new role with Gullies.

He said his dedication to the job saw him lose family time and time to socialise.

“I was definitely sacrificing my family time, I want to be able to dedicate a lot of time to my wife and our eight-month-old as well as in footy so it’s about finding that balance again,” McKay said.

“I’m also really excited to get back to being my teammates’ mate as well, instead of a coach – you miss out on that social aspect with the boys a bit when you’re a coach.”

Tea Tree Gully began the season well with three straight wins but soon dropped off into the middle of the pack, injuries to McKay, Chad and Dylan Schoenmakers and ruckman Blake Penney taking their toll.

McKay celebrating the 2018 premiership with former TTG coach Justin Maschotta. Picture: Brenton Edwards)

McKay said he also put blame on himself as coach.

“We were very unlucky with injury but aside from that you always blame yourself a bit as a coach,” he said.

“I think if I can take some pressure off myself now and just go out and enjoy it, it’s going to benefit the team.”

McKay, still one of the division’s best players, added he was eager to get back on the field as a player and forget about the coaching aspect of footy.

“We’ve got a lot of talent and I’d like to think that I can take my game to another level next year, it’s what the team needs.

“I’m really excited to concentrate on playing and help get the club back to the top.”

Gullies will play Brighton at Brighton Oval on Saturday in its last game of 2022.