Balwyn reveals how it appointed Rodney Eade as coach of the Eastern Football League power

JUST a few months ago Rodney Eade was sitting in the coaching box calling the shots for AFL club Gold Coast, but in 2018 he will be at the helm of one of suburban football’s powerhouse clubs.

Rodney Eade coached Gold Coast for three years. Picture: Dave Hunt/AAP

IT IS perhaps the biggest coaching appointment in the local football history.

Just a few months ago Rodney Eade was sitting in the coaching box calling the shots for AFL club Gold Coast, looking to steer one of the AFL’s expansion clubs out of mediocrity in one of football’s newest markets.

Eade had charge of a team with one of the greatest players in the game’s history — Gary Ablett Jr. — and the key forward set to be this year’s most sought-after free agent — Tom Lynch.

RELATED: Rodney Eade to coach Balwyn in Eastern Football League

In 2018, Melbourne’s eastern suburbs, over 1500km from Metricon Stadium, will be Eade’s home after he was appointed coach of Eastern Football League powerhouse Balwyn, sensationally replacing Marty Pask.

But how did the Tigers, knocked out of last year’s finals series in straight sets, come to appoint the four-time premiership Hawk and 377-game league coach?

Marty Pask coached Balwyn for just one season. Picture: David Crosling

Balwyn denies it sacked Pask to get Eade.

“It was more an agreed decision because Marty’s business has really grown the last 12 months,” Balwyn football manager Paul Johnson said.

“He really needs to concentrate on that or probably put more people on, which would have been a financial constraint.”

Eade was first approached by Balwyn president Richard Wilson towards the end of 2017 before further meetings with Tigers officials took place last week.

The Tigers dropped the bombshell news on Friday evening that the former Sydney, Western Bulldogs and Gold Coast mentor would be taking over from Pask.

The Tigers released a statement suggesting Pask had resigned as his business interests as a player manager had grown “significantly in the last 12 months and the demands on his time as head coach could no longer be sustained”.

Pask spent just one season at Balwyn Park after taking over from four-time premiership mentor Daniel Donati, departing with a year to remain on his contact.

He had helped lure former AFL players Henry Schade and Daniel Gorringe and a host of other recruits to the club over the summer.

Eade has previous connections with Balwyn. His sons Jordan and Jackson have both played at the Tigers.

But it was Eade’s friendship with businessman Wilson that helped seal the 59-year-old’s arrival at Cherry Rd.

“He’s got a relationship with his sons having played at Balwyn and our president is vice chairman at Melbourne Victory and Jim Christo, the marketing manager there, is a very good friend of Rodney Eade’s,” Johnson said.

“There’s a few cross relationships there, Rodney has spoken at a few functions at Balwyn over the years and knows the club pretty well.

“His desire (is) to go back and enjoy coaching local football and teach young kids what he can so he is really looking forward to it.”

Rodney Eade coached the Western Bulldogs to three consecutive preliminary finals.

Players were notified on Saturday that Eade had taken over. He held his first training session on Monday night.

His appointment means both Gold Coast’s first two coaches will be at grassroots level this year with inaugural Suns mentor Guy McKenna taking the reins at Beaumaris.

“We had a meeting with Marty (on Friday), we knew Rocket was available and president Richard Wilson appointed Rodney as coach,” Johnson said

“It’s a great thing for the football club and it’s a great thing for the players that normally wouldn’t get to play under someone of that quality.

“There’s been some good coaches but he’s a different level again I think and that’s respect to everyone in the past.”