Joe Carmody returns to Ballarat league, joining East Point as coach

Changes continue to happen in one major country league as a former coach of the year makes his comeback and another club part ways with their coach. All the latest here.

A year might be a long time in football for some, but for new East Point coach Joe Carmody it was enough time to get the coaching bug again.

Carmody has been named as the Kangaroos new Ballarat league mentor after signing a deal to lead the club for at least the next two seasons.

He takes over from former Essendon player Jackson Merrett.

“It wasn’t on the radar,” Carmody revealed.

“With Jackson stepping down and East making contact, it all escalated quickly to happen.

“It’s exciting to be back in the fold.”

Carmody’s last role was at Ballarat where he coached from 2019 to 2022, culminating in being named coach of the year last season.

Joe Carmody coaching the Ballarat Swans in 2022. Picture: Shane Jones.

He guided the team to a preliminary final.

One of the reasons he left was to take some time away from the game and spend time with his young family.

But after sitting on the sidelines he feels now is the right time to come back with a better balance between footy and life away from the game.

“Having the year off has been the best thing for me,” he said.

“I had a great time at Ballarat. They were just a fantastic club to me but having the year off gave me a bit more perspective.

“You go into coaching again with a bit more balance with your family, your work and your footy.

“It’s having those strategies to better balance things.”

Carmody takes over a young team on the rise.

East Point will play finals this year, starting with an elimination final against Sebastopol.

“I’ll go in with a fresh look,” he said.

“I’m looking forward to working with a lot of young kids I taught at St Pat’s. Some of them are in their late 20s and 30s.

“It will be good to be involved in their careers.”

Carmody said the focus would be on building on 2023 and working towards a premiership.

“With the talent they’ve already got with the experienced players like the Johnson’s who are in the top few players in the league, you've got to aim as high as possible,” he said.

“We’ll be looking to fast track the (young players) and get them to a stage where they are bona fide senior players in the making.”

The new coach said Merrett could also remain but talks will happen with him after the season.

One thing is certain, next year’s clashes with the Swans will be interesting for Carmody.

“It’s going to be completely different having a real history with the Swans as a player and as a coach,” he said.

“I’ve got a great relationship with the Swans and that will continue.

“But I certainly want to beat them as well and we want to be competitive.”

Jason Williams is leaving Bacchus Marsh after just one year as coach. Picture: Bacchus Marsh Football Club.

East Point won’t be the only club with a new coach for next year with Melton South and Melton also on the hunt for new coaches.

They will be joined by Bacchus Marsh with the Cobras announcing Jason Williams will leave at the end of the season.

Last Saturday’s win over Ballarat was his last after accepting a development coaching role at Port Adelaide in the AFL next year.

“The club has received this news with feelings of sadness at the loss of an exceptional coach, but also with an immense sense of pride that we have been a part of the progression of Jason’s career and pathway to the highest level in the land,” a statement from the club said.

“The 2023 season has been one of great challenge and tremendous growth across our whole football program.

“Jason has reshaped the way our players think about themselves and their club.

“He has empowered players young and old to believe they could achieve beyond their own expectations and time and again, this belief led to success and improvement right across the playing roster.

“This growth has been born out on the scoreboard in the latter part of the year with four consecutive wins.”

Williams said in the statement he was sad to leave sooner than he liked and has loved every minute of the journey.

He added Bacchus Marsh has improved his coaching and he hoped the players have grown to love the club in the time he has been there.

The club will now start the process of finding another coach for next year.

Williams left with a record of six wins and 10 losses.