EFL 2018: Bayswater premiership coach Paul McCormack stands down
BAYSWATER coach Paul McCormack has detailed the reasons behind his decision to stand down from the role after his side coughed up a 42-point lead in the elimination final.
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THERE will be no “Baysie backflip” in 2019.
After stepping down as coach at the end of 2017, only to re-sign just weeks later, Paul McCormack has called time on his stint as Bayswater coach.
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McCormack informed his playing group after Sunday’s elimination final defeat against Lilydale that this season would be his last.
“Last year Gazza (president Gary Galvin) wanted me to stay on but I think he knows it is the right call,” McCormack said.
“It just gets to that point, unless I won a flag, I don’t think you can keep staying on.
“Three to five years is your maximum at a local footy club … it would be good for the players so hopefully they can keep moving forward with it.
“If they can keep 80 per cent of that group, they’ll be right back up there in the next few years.”
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The 48-year-old signed at Bayswater Oval ahead of the 2015 season and took the Waters from eighth to a Division 2 premiership in the space of two years.
While competitive, Bayswater could crack just two wins in the top tier last season to be demoted back to Division 2.
“Being relegated, I didn’t want to walk out on that,” McCormack said.
“It would have been good to stay in first division, that was the aim.
“Realistically, if I was going to get them back in first division, I would have had to stay and end up being a five to six year coach, which is too long at a club.”
Bayswater logged 11 wins this year to finish the home and away season in fourth, but was knocked out of the flag race in the first final after Lilydale recovered from 42 points down to claim a memorable win after the siren.
“There’s a good group of 21 to 24-year-old boys who can really take the club forward,” McCormack said.
“Hayden Schroeder, Benny Searle, Bryce Galvin, Matty Camera, (Cameron) McLeod, (Aaron) Cotte, (Kurt) Lopo — there are heaps in that next tier.
“I’ve maximised what I could get out of them, I think, but it just comes to that point.
“At the end of the day, I think they know, too, that if they are going to go forward they need another voice.”
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