AFL OUTER EAST: Powelltown locks in Jarrod Bayliss as coach
AFL Outer East Division 2 outfit Powelltown has unveiled an EFL premiership mentor to lead the club from 2021. He explains why he’s made a return to coaching after time away, and why the Powelltown gig is an attractive prospect...
Local Footy
Don't miss out on the headlines from Local Footy. Followed categories will be added to My News.
AFL Outer East Division 2 outfit Powelltown has locked in an Eastern league premiership coach as its new mentor.
Former Park Orchards coach Jarrod Bayliss has signed a two-year deal at the Demons, taking over from outgoing coach James Iacono.
Bayliss coached Wandin from 2010 to 2014 and 2016 and led Park Orchards to its first EFL senior premiership in 2017, before stepping away from the Sharks’ role at the end of 2018.
Club president Geoff Mooney said Bayliss’ experience made his appointment a “no-brainer”, with the club looking to take the next step after falling agonisingly short of a grand final berth in 2019.
“We probably spoke to three other coaches, our captain is good friends with Jarrod Bayliss, so we got in contact with Jarrod and he was keen to get back into coaching and that’s sort of how it all eventuated in the end,” Mooney said.
“I wanted more of a Division 1/Premier Division playing coach, experienced.
“We just missed out by three points (playing in a grand final), we looked at it and when we started looking for a coach, I wanted to go to that next level – with Jarrod’s experience and knowledge, it was a no-brainer for us in the end.”
Bayliss said his time away from coaching last year coupled with existing friendships at Powelltown made the gig an attractive prospect.
“I’ve had a good break the last couple of years not coaching and a little bit of time off this year, I just thought it was the right time to get back into it,” Bayliss said.
“It’s amazing what a little bit of time away from coaching can do.
“I said to myself that I was done with it, and it takes so much time and energy up in your life and I’ve got a little boy who’s two and I’ve got another one on the way, due in a few weeks.
“My life’s probably going to get a little more busy especially with work, but I’ve also had some time away and you just miss it, you miss the reasons why you do it.
“I know a few of the boys up there so it was just a good fit. It’s obviously the back-end of my footy career from a playing perspective and it’s a good opportunity with a club that’s up and coming, and they weren’t far away last year.”
Bayliss had previously linked up with EFL Division 1 club Mooroolbark to play this year before the season was abandoned.
“It was a little bit hard to tell Mooroolbark, I feel really bad going back to my junior club and not playing a game in the end because of this year,” he said.
“It was too good of an opportunity to not take … with the time away, the heart grows fonder, doesn’t it?”
The new Demons mentor said he was excited to get to work at his new club, hoping to take it the next step in 2021.
“The boys that are there are really keen to get in and get their hands dirty and do the work,” Bayliss said.
“Hopefully they can go further next year, nothing’s promised but we’ll get in and work hard and I’ll get to know the boys and give ourselves every opportunity to be there at the end of the year like everyone wants to be.”
MORE FOOTY NEWS
WHY BERWICK MADE THE MOVE EAST