EFL 2018: Dennis Armfield signs on as coach at Park Orchards in the Eastern Football League
PARK Orchards has secured a former Carlton fan favourite as its new coach after Jarrod Bayliss stepped down from the role.
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PARK Orchards has secured a coaching coup, signing former Carlton fan favourite Dennis Armfield as its new playing mentor.
Sharks players were told on Sunday that Armfield had signed as coach after Jarrod Bayliss stepped down from the role.
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However, Bayliss, who has been subject to speculation about his ongoing commitment to the position, will continue to play at Domeney Reserve in 2019.
Armfield was a playing assistant coach at Essendon District league club Avondale Heights this year following his retirement from the AFL at the end of 2017.
He will juggle his Eastern Football League coaching commitments next year with senior assistant duties at North Melbourne’s AFL Women’s outfit.
The 31-year-old has ties to Park Orchards through Bayliss, president Jeremy Thomas and captain Tom Feher.
Armfield said he had aspirations to further his coaching.
“I thought the timing was right for me to take the next step and Park Orchards has been kind enough to give me that opportunity,” he said.
“The plan of attack is to throw myself in the deep end and learn and see if I’ve got what it takes.
“Definitely want to get back involved at whatever highest level at the moment but right now my passion is to Park Orchards and to North Melbourne.”
Bayliss took the coaching reigns at Park Orchards ahead of the 2017 season and led the Sharks to their first senior EFL premiership in his first year.
Park Orchards were in the Division 2 finals mix for most of this season before squaring its season at 9-9.
Sharks president Jeremy Thomas said Armfield, who played 145 AFL games across 10 years, would bring an elite attitude to the club.
“He’s not coming in to change the world, he thinks what we’ve got in place is pretty good,” Thomas said.
“I think the professional nature of where he has come from and what he has done will really help our young guys develop that little bit quicker.”
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