EDFL 2018: Jacana premiership coach Robert Fletcher to depart at end of Division 1 season
Jacana will have a new coach in 2019 after the man who led it to a premiership last year rejected a two-year contract extension.
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JACANA premiership coach Robert Fletcher will stand down at season’s end after rejecting a two-year contract offer from the Essendon District Football League club.
Fletcher is in his second season in the top job and led the Jaguars to last year’s Division 2 premiership.
But Jacana has endured a forgettable 2018 in Division 1 and has a 0-12 record with four rounds of the home-and-away season remaining.
Fletcher, who will coach out the year, announced his decision to the playing group on Thursday night and said he was departing on “good terms”.
“I think things change in your life,” Fletcher said, pointing to the tough year he has endured off the ground.
“I’m not saying I’m not going to coach somewhere next year; I’m not going to say I am going to coach. I just don’t know what I’m doing.
“The footy club has given me the opportunity to coach and do something I love, so I wanted to make sure I leave them in the right position in that they can go out and start hunting coaches before other clubs start doing that as well.”
The Jaguars went down to East Keilor by 56 points on Saturday, 19.11 (125) to 11.13 (79).
Hit hard by injury and undermanned, they have lost eight games by 10 goals or more this season.
“It’s been a tough year, but I’ve grown as a coach I think,” Fletcher said.
“(On Saturday) I think we had 10 players who had never played seniors before this year, so there’s been twos players playing seniors.
“Looking forward, hopefully sign some of the Jacana boys up in the next four or five weeks for next year, so they’re ready to go for next season.”
Jacana sits three games behind Westmeadows and is set to return to the third tier next year.
The Jaguars will face Taylors Lakes, Tullamarine, Hillside and Oak Park in their remaining fixtures.
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