EFL 2019: John Brown re-signs at Rowville until end of 2021
Rowville coach John Brown has forecast the EFL Premier Division club will be “very aggressive in the off-season” following second consecutive elimination final exits.
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Reappointed Rowville coach John Brown says there is “unfinished business” for the club after a second consecutive elimination final exit.
And Brown has forecast the EFL Premier Division club will be “very aggressive in the off-season” to ensure the Hawks can “perform at the level that’s required come September”.
Brown has signed a two-year contract extension, which will see him remain at Seebeck Oval until the end of 2021.
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He has taken Rowville to finals in his two seasons at the club, but has bowed out of the flag race at the first hurdle.
Brown said the club had provided a pathway for its junior products but recruiting would be the key to bridging the gap to the leading sides in the competition.
“We’ve got some very good top-end talent but we probably just need a little bit of depth in the underbelly,” he said.
“If we’re going to be challenging for finals success next September, we’ve also got to make sure we’ve got some top-end talent that extends beyond the 25, 26 (players) and we probably need to push that out to a list of 35.”
Rowville was knocked out of this year’s finals series after a 37-point defeat against South Croydon in the elimination final.
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“We’ve got a little bit of unfinished business,” he said.
“We’re heading in the right direction, some good stability around the club I think is important as well with the playing group, coaching group and even the committee.
“We’re working well as a combined group and we just feel there is an opportunity over the next two years to really make something of it.”
When asked to elaborate on “unfinished business”, Brown said: “Our desire is to make sure we’re not only performing in finals but starting to win finals and actually influence (the competition), to the point where we can be challenging to be playing off in the last game of the season.”
Brown said Rowville would look to acquire talent in an attempt to boost its bookends.
He anticipated the club would announce high-profile player arrivals next month.
“We’d like a key forward,” he said.
“Just someone that’s got the ability to really stand up throughout the course of the season and allow a couple of our other young key forwards to have a bigger influence.
“We’re also looking at a key defender — just someone that can step in and play a key role for us.”
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