EFL 2018: Tom Roach announced as new coach of Bayswater in the Eastern Football League
TWO-time Balwyn premiership player Tom Roach has been announced as Bayswater’s new coach after calling time on his decorated playing career.
Local Footy
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AS a player Tom Roach won five premierships with three clubs.
He will now be hoping to achieve grand final glory with Bayswater as its new coach.
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The 33-year-old replaces Paul McCormack, who announced that he would be standing down after the elimination final loss against Lilydale.
“I was probably looking at starting as an assistant somewhere learning the ropes but this is a great opportunity that has presented itself,” Roach said.
“They’re a good football club and sometimes you’ve just got to bite the bullet and have a crack at things.”
Roach is already familiar with Bayswater Oval. He played in many finals for EFL powerhouse Balwyn at the venue, including flags in 2015 and 2016.
He was taken with pick No. 37 by Richmond in the 2003 draft and made 11 AFL appearances as a father-son selection after his father Michael played 200 games, including the 1980 premiership, with the Tigers.
After being delisted at the end of 2006, he played in two premierships with North Ballarat in the VFL and a WAFL flag with Swan Districts in 2010.
Roach only met with Bayswater for the first time last week before committing to taking on the coaching reins on Tuesday morning.
He will serve as a non-playing coach after calling time on his decorated career at the end of this season.
“I suppose I’m walking into a role where I’ve got good foundations,” he said.
“They’re a pretty successful club who should be making finals and that is always a good positive.”
Bayswater president Gary Galvin hailed the appointment as a coaching coup.
“We rang about 25 different people. He was on our list and he wants to coach,” Galvin said.
“It’s a great replacement for another great coach.
“This kid we’ll do well, too, I reckon.”
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