Mick Fogarty takes coaching job in AFL Outer East

The two-time Noble Park premiership mentor has landed at Beaconsfield, excited by the prospect of guiding its group of promising young players.

A few days after being farewelled from Noble Park with life membership, “Mighty Mick’’ Fogarty has accepted a coaching position in the AFL Outer East.

Fogarty, 52, was last night appointed at Beaconsfield, replacing Leigh McQuillen.

The Eagles were preliminary finalists this season, beaten in their last game by eventual premier Narre Warren.

Nar Nar Goon was also keen on Fogarty, who, save for the 2014 season, coached Noble Park from 2010 to this year.

There were premierships in 2010 and ’11 and a grand final appearance in 2013.

All up he was in charge of the Bulls for 177 matches, for 112 wins and 65 losses.

He is the longest-serving coach in Noble Park’s history.

Fogarty also steered the Eastern league representative team.

“It made sense to take it (the Beaconsfield job),’’ he said this morning.

“They’ve got a terrific junior structure and some really good kids coming through, which really excited me. When you’ve got good kids coming through you know a club is in good health and good shape. It just really appealed in that regard, and the club’s also got a terrific facility.

Welcome, Mighty Mick: Fogarty shakes on it with Beaconsfield president Troy Robinson.

“It’s very close to home, plus I’ve got a lot of respect for the footy club after playing against them back in the day. Can’t wait to get stuck into it, mate.’’

Fogarty played for the St Kilda and the Sydney Swans Under 19s and reserves teams and at Noble Park, then went on to a stint with Springvale in the old VFA.

His first senior coaching job came at ROC, which defeated the Doug Koop-coached Beaconsfield in a grand final in 1995.

“They certainly got us back a few years later in the 1999 preliminary final,’’ Fogarty said.

“That six-year period when I coached ROC … I got a really deep respect for Beaconsfield, even though we had a really strong rivalry and you could say both teams probably didn’t like each other.’’

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After his stop at ROC, Fogarty coached Cranbourne and Drouin and was an assistant at VFL club Frankston.

His return to Noble Park as senior coach brought a welter of honours.

He said the Nar Nar Goon offer was tempting.

“Absolutely. They were outstanding in their approach,’’ he said.

“I had a serious look at it. It was something that really appealed to me, to go back to the West Gippy days, club land, and they were really professional in their approach. It was a really tough decision, it really was.’’