Barry Mitchell returns to happy hunting ground as coach of Northcote Park
Northcote Park premiership player and decorated AFL assistant coach Barry Mitchell is returning to Bill Lawry Oval to take the Cougars’ coaching reins in 2020. Hear from the man himself.
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Northcote Park has scored a coaching coup, securing decorated former AFL player and assistant coach Barry Mitchell for 2020.
Bill Lawry Oval holds plenty of happy memories for Mitchell having won a Northern Football League Division 1 premiership as well as club and league best-and-fairests in 1997.
“I know a few guys around the club, so when they said the position was available I was keen to come back,” Mitchell said.
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“I enjoyed my time here last time, so I’m looking forward to it again.”
The tough onballer played 221 games for Sydney, Collingwood and Carlton before moving into coaching roles at Carlton, Hawthorn and Fremantle.
Mitchell takes charge of the Cougars after one season with Old Scotch, leading the VAFA club to a Premier B grand final and promotion back to the top flight.
Matt McLennan announced he was stepping down as Northcote Park coach in August after three years in the top job.
The Cougars had a roller-coaster season, winning their first four games of the season but losing the next six straight and finished seventh.
Star forward Ash Close has already departed to take the coaching job at his junior club Ivanhoe in VAFA Division 2.
Mitchell was confident the club would retain the bulk of its playing list and was looking forward to getting into recruiting.
“This time of year is about retaining your players and looking for more players, so we’re in the process of doing that now,” he said.
“It’s always difficult to replace a good big forward, whether we develop another one or recruit another one, I haven’t really got an answer.
“A lot of clubs are trying to do it (recruiting), so it’s about building relationships and showing your vision.
“We’re trying to create a fun but winning culture and I think that’s the way to attract players.”
Mitchell ruled out actively recruiting player from Old Scotch.
After an attempted under-19s team fell through this season, the Cougars are again expected to try and launch a junior pathway to the club for 2020.
Northcote Park is the third Division 1 club to appoint a new coach for next season after Bundoora signed Michael Ryan to replace Andrew Sturgess and North Heidelberg locked in Jason Heatley to replace Brent Harvey.
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