Eastern league: Steve Hughes returns to Noble Park as senior coach

After five years at Bonbeach, Steve Hughes has been appointed to coach the club where he started his football as a junior player.

Steve Hughes is the new coach of Noble Park. Picture: Chris Eastman

Steve Hughes left Noble Park as an often-injured senior player.

He returns 15 years later as senior coach.

The Bulls confirmed this morning that Hughes, 41, had been appointed to replace the club’s longest-serving coach, Mick Fogarty, who has landed at Beaconsfield.

It’s believed he nosed out Richmond VFL assistant and former Port Melbourne player Tom Langford.

“Really excited,’’ Hughes, who has signed a two-year deal, said this morning.

“I went through the process and was lucky enough to come out at the other end running the show, which is great.

“It’s been a while since I’ve been back, but I’m really looking forward to it. A lot of work to do. Head down, bum up now. ’’

Asked if he had always aspired to coach the Bulls, Hughes said: “It’s been in the back of my mind. The ground is named after my grandfather (Pat Wright senior). But Noble Park is a big gig, as most people know. Probably the last couple of years I felt I could give it a go. I actually went for the job 10 years ago and missed out on it to ‘Foggers’ (Fogarty).’’

Steve Hughes forged a reputation as an astute coach during a five-season stint at Bonbeach. Picture: Chris Eastman

Hughes played junior football with Noble Park in the 1990s and went on to the Under 19s and seniors.

After knee injuries forced him to retire at the age of 26, he made his start in coaching at Springvale Districts in 2006.

He took the Demons to the Division 2 premiership the following year.

At the end of 2009 Hughes stood down at Districts and joined the Sandringham Dragons as an assistant to Dale Tapping.

Part-time stints in AFL recruiting and scouting followed until he took his next senior position, at Bonbeach in 2015.

He had five seasons with the Sharks, highlighted by their grand final appearance in 2017. They made the finals again this year.

Hughes said his time under Tapping, now with Brisbane, was “probably the best thing I’ve done from a footy perspective’’.

“I learned so much that year,’’ he said.

“So probably since spending a bit of time in the TAC Cup, that’s when I thought I was capable of coaching.’’

The Hughes family has strong ties to Noble Park. His parents Wayne and Helen are life members of the club, and Helen Hughes is part of the legendary Wright clan.

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Noble Park president Grant Connolly said: “The club believes Steve fits the criteria to coach the club at this time of our development.

“He has tasted premiership success and has led finals campaigns at local footy over his journey.

“What he brings to Noble Park is a wealth of knowledge and passion to oversee and develop our football program.’’

Meanwhile, the Bulls have re-signed captain Kyle Martin and vice-captain Jackson Sketcher.

Martin, who last week claimed his 11th best and fairest in 12 years, was being courted by Berwick.