EDFL 2019: New Coburg Districts coach Tom Gleeson discusses plans

Tom Gleeson has put pen to paper on a two-year deal with Coburg Districts and is pumped to get started at an exciting time for the EDFL Division 2 club.

Coburg Districts president Allan Chandler shakes on it with new coach Tom Gleeson. Picture: Facebook

New Coburg Districts coach Tom Gleeson will focus on retaining the club’s existing players before turning his attention to recruiting.

While the Lions were eliminated in the first week of finals, they have been left buoyed by a strong second half of the EDFL Division 2 season, laying the platform for a premiership tilt in 2020.

Gleeson, who replaces Chris Tankard at the helm, said Coburg Districts would be active over summer after winning 10 games this year.

Chris Tankard spent six years in charge at Coburg Districts. Picture: Andy Brownbill

“I said to the club that before any release of new players … I want to make sure everyone on that list has re-signed,” Gleeson said.

“I think that really reflects a good club and a club people want to stay at. I don’t want blokes who are going to come here for a year and then nick off.

“We’ve obviously got a few targets we want to go after to help strengthen the list.”

The 29-year-old former VFL-listed player was the Lions’ star recruit last off-season and returned 30 goals from 13 games.

ALL THE LATEST NEWS FROM THE EDFL

STRATHMORE COACH ISSUES WARNING TO ABERS

SUNBURY KANGAROOS COMPLETE PERFECT SEASON

EAST KEILOR SILENCES DOUBTERS, EYES FLAG

EDFL PREMIERSHIP COACH MAKES SHOCK BACKFLIP

EDFL BOSS EXPECTS NO CHANGES TO SENIOR STRUCTURE

Gleeson was an assistant under close friend Tankard — who he said is “like a second dad to me” — this season and said the opportunity to take on the top job came earlier than expected.

In July, Tankard made the decision to step down at season’s end after six years at the helm.

“The plan initially wasn’t to be coaching in the second year — it was more of a two-year plan,” Gleeson said.

“But things have worked out the way they have, and I’m pretty rapt.”

While it is Gleeson’s first senior job — he has been given the security of a two-year deal — he has plenty of coaching experience.

“My background’s tennis. I played college tennis in the states for a few years,” he said. “I finished playing footy when I was 13 and had basically (six years) away from footy. I played under-19s at St Bernard’s and had a scholarship to the states after that to play tennis.

“But I was coaching tennis — junior, men’s and women’s classes — so I suppose the coaching side of things is something that’s been drilled into me since the age of 13.

“Obviously I haven’t coached footy, but I feel with my knowledge and the love of footy, I’m ready to rock ‘n’ roll.”

With the Lions’ junior program flourishing and new lights set to be installed on both ovals, Gleeson said it was an “exciting time”.

The senior side had a 4-4 record before finishing the home-and-away rounds with six wins from seven games on the back of a watertight defence.

But the campaign ended with a 40-point loss to Burnside Heights in the elimination final.

“As a club, we were pretty disappointed with the performance against Burnside. It was just one of those days I felt,” Gleeson said. “They were fantastic. I can’t take anything away from them. They beat us on the outside with speed.

“In the second half of the year, we were really able to cut down the opposition scoring.”

Tankard is set to remain at Coburg Districts next season in an off-field role, while Aaron McVilly will assist Gleeson from the sidelines on game day.

WHAT A LEADER LOCAL FOOTY SUBSCRIPTION GIVES YOU ACCESS TO

— Match reports, features, player and coach movements and analysis of all the leagues across Melbourne.

— Unprecedented AFL coverage.

— All the latest football news from across the country including Herald Sun, Daily Telegraph and Courier-Mail.

— Latest news and videos from the world’s leading leagues.

— Exclusive digital stories and videos before they go to print.