Queenscliff assistant Blake Limb will coach the Coutas for the remainder of the BFL season
A Queenscliff assistant and former player will guide the Coutas for the remainder of the BFL season following the sudden departure of Rory Nicol.
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Queenscliff assistant coach and former player Blake Limb will marshall the Coutas for the remainder of the BFL season.
It comes after the sudden departure of senior coach Rory Nicol who did not see out his full two years in charge, stepping down before Thursday night training last week.
Limb returned to the club in November, 2021 as an assistant.
The club confirmed with this publication it had started the process to find a new senior coach for next season.
Club president Ali Waight said the Coutas were looking for an experienced coach who could lead a “young talented group through the next phase of their development” and set it up for ongoing success.
“We believe its an exciting time for our club and that we will be an attractive opportunity for an incoming coach,” Waight said.
The Coutas are currently seventh on the BFL ladder with five wins.
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Queenscliff coach Rory Nicol announced last Wednesday he would depart the Coutas at the end of the 2023 campaign after two seasons in charge.
The former Newcomb coach had beaten out seven others for the role, signing on for two years in October, 2021.
However, this publication understands a day after Nicol flagged his intention to depart at season’s end, he quit the club and did not take training on Thursday or coach the Coutas on Saturday.
Queenscliff went down by five points to Modewarre, 11.7 (73) to 9.14 (68).
The Coutas currently sit seventh with five wins after finishing sixth last season with six victories.
Nicol was not available for comment but admitted last Wednesday his two-year commitment was “a shorter stint than normally I’d do”.
He pointed to the rising pressures on coaches at the local level to provide context around his decision.
“There’s a lot of pressure on coaches, you really need a good footy manager, or ideally have joint coaches in this day and age,” he said.
Belmont Lions in the GDFL have implemented a two-coach methodology to “share the load.”
Nicol said there were a number of challenges across seasons 2023 and 22, dealing with “young people dejected from Covid” and getting them motivated for the first full season since 19.
“There were a lot of transitions during that period,” Nicol said.
“Trying to get young guys to reconnect back into society and socially and fall back in love with football.”
He said “stop-start footy built up a lot of frustrations” over the past few years.
“The challenge was to get them to enjoy their football, enjoy the club and reconnect,” he said.
He also estimated around 15 senior players didn’t commit for his first season in charge, with some relocating to Melbourne and other reasons: “Which is substantial.”
It was a time of change with a new president in Ali Waight coming on board while Nicol understood he blooded around 20 new players over his two-year tenure.
“I feel like I’ve laid that platform for the next coach,” he said.
“I just think the best thing for the football club is to recruit their coach now who can take them to that next level and commit for three years.
“It’s best for me as a coach and best for the club and playing group to have that person come in now.
“I’ve been proud of all the kids I’ve brought through the under-18s, 16s, and got some games into them.”
Nicol estimated the club needed maybe 3-4 class, experienced players to bring Queenscliff up to a higher standard.
He said he still had a passion for coaching but wasn’t sure what 2024 would bring.
“Even though this gig was a little shorter, I feel like I’ve certainly left the place in a stronger position than I found it,” he said.
“I can walk away with my integrity and head held high.
“I potentially could coach somewhere next year.
“I love teaching footy, I love being part of a club.
“It’s really important that we finish off strong.”
Originally published as Queenscliff assistant Blake Limb will coach the Coutas for the remainder of the BFL season
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