Dual Adelaide Footy League premiership coach Justin Maschotta returns to Tea Tree Gully for season 2023

A dual Adelaide Footy League premiership coach has returned to his old division one club after a stint in the SANFL and believes more success is right around the corner.

A dual Adelaide Footy League premiership coach has returned to his old club after a stint in the SANFL.

Justin Maschotta – who led Tea Tree Gully to a 2018 top flight flag and also a division two flag – has returned to the club after a one-year period at Central District.

The move comes just after playing-coach Alex McKay’s decision to step down from his coaching duties.

Maschotta left Gullies in late 2021 to undertake a role as coaching coordinator of the Bulldogs’ junior program.

“I’m appreciative of that opportunity at Central District and it was definitely rewarding in the sense that I we got to deliver a strong program to the club and I was also able to put things in perspective for myself as a coach and person,” Maschotta said.

“The club is going in a really good direction but I probably started to tip over the edge commitment-wise a bit and I’m really grateful for the chance to come back to Gullies and work with the club again.”

Tea Tree Gully coach Justin Maschotta celebrates his side’s 2018 division 1 premiership win. Picture: Brenton Edwards

Maschotta had played a significant hand in constructing Tea Tree Gully’s senior list before leaving prior to last season.

He said he was looking forward to developing the makeup of the team and to work with former premiership captain Alex McKay again after his return from time in Queensland.

“He (McKay) was probably in a situation where it got a bit much for him with a young family and to have him back as full-time player is going to be very key for us,” Maschotta said.

“I’ve got some pretty strong connections with the club and list obviously, and it’s now getting to that good mix of young and experienced guys.

“We’ve been able to develop young guys like Brodie Latham and others, and to have the opportunity to build on what we’ve got is exciting.

Tea Tree Gully’s Alex McKay (right) celebrates with Maschotta in 2018. Picture: Brenton Edwards

“I’m also just really keen to get back to the club – it’s a family-oriented club and my family is all involved there which is massive for me.”

Gullies will be hungry for success after finishing sixth to just fall out of the finals picture and miss out on September last season.

Maschotta said the club was not far off and embraced any pressure being a former premiership coach brought.

“I’m very buoyant about where we’re at as a footy club and I know we’re all very excited,” he said.

“We’re in a bracket now where we’ve got some good experience – every successful club in the competition has that core group of guys who are basically experienced 200-gamers and we’re coming to that now.

“We really embrace any pressure around it because we’ve got a huge amount of belief in what we’re doing.”