EFL 2018: Mick Fogarty puts his hand up to continue as coach of Noble Park

MICK Fogarty is keen to continue as coach of Noble Park, saying it’s ‘an exciting place to be around’.

“MIGHTY MICK’’ Fogarty says Noble Park’s rebuilding is well underway but there is more work to do and he wants to be around to add some fixtures and finishes.

In his second stint as senior coach, the two-time premiership mentor is keen to be reappointed for next year.

KYLE MARTIN HAS ANOTHER DAY OUT

BLACKBURN HOLDS ON IN THRILLER AGAINST BALWYN

VERMONT PREPARES TO WELCOME BACK KEY PLAYERS

“I just think it’s a completely new group now, a young group, and it’s an exciting place to be around,’’ Fogarty said.

“It’s a group that has really come on this year in regards to development. We’ve got terrific

Under 19s and they’ll play finals and will go deep, so there is a lot of potential and personnel on the way up and that’s going to hold the club in good stead in the next few years.

“I’d like to be a part of that, simply because we started something after the mass exodus of senior players after last season. Would be good to finish something we started.’’

Mick Fogarty is keen to stay in charge at Noble Park in 2019. Picture: Lawrence Pinder.

Although the Bulls won’t play in the finals for the second successive season, Fogarty said they had been “more than competitive all the way through’’, as they were on Saturday when they led top-three pop Doncaster at three-quarter time.

“We’ve had a massive turnover of players, especially senior players, and we started the process of rebuilding. The club to its credit got some quality recruits in and, yeah it’s starting to come together, starting to look OK. We hope to finish well in the last two games and show we’re not far away.’’

Fogarty coached the Bulls from 2010-13, a period that took in two premierships and another grand final appearance. He returned in 2015.

Meanwhile, young left-footer Ali Zijai continued his slashing season with fine performance against Doncaster, which kicked four goals to two in the final quarter to achieve a 10-12 (72) to 9.7 (61) victory at the Pat Wright Senior Oval.

“He’s having a sensational year, young Ali,’’ Fogarty declared of Zijai, a former Dandenong Stingray who is on Casey’s VFL list.

“He controlled his wing. He won some really important stoppage balls and he gave us outside spread with his run through all the right spots on the ground. Star player. And that’s what gets you excited as a coach when you get these kids. I remember watching him win a flag in the Under 19s with Jamie (former Under 19s coach Jamie Barnett). He oozes talent.’’

Ditto for Piva Wright, who booted five of Noble Park’s nine goals.

The burly right-footer also kicked five in the previous round.

Fogarty said Wright, a decorated former Dandenong Stingray who went on to Richmond’s rookie list, “is really starting to find consistency and fulfil his potential as a key forward’’.

“He’s starting to mature as a footballer. He has the ability to week in, week out rip the competition apart. He’s big, he’s strong, he has terrific hands, he’s a beautiful kick for goal. He was a real threat to Doncaster all day.’’

Bulls forward Piva Wright has the ability to “rip the competition apart’’, according to Mick Fogarty.

Pressure-bearing small forward Luke Nelson and half back Tommy Glen were other worthy contributors.

Unfortunately for the Bulls they lost leading midfielder and vice-captain Jackson Sketcher to a knee injury in the first quarter.