EFL 2019: Upper Ferntree Gully coach Joel Perry to step down

Upper Ferntree Gully coach Joel Perry is undecided if he will play on in 2020, but has revealed his coaching intentions for next season.

Upper Ferntree Gully coach Joel Perry will stand down at the end of the season. Picture: Andy Brownbill

Upper Ferntree Gully coach Joel Perry is unsure of his playing future but certain he won’t be coaching next season.

Perry is preparing to stand down as coach of the EFL Division 1 club at the end of the season after informing the Kings’ committee he would not seek a third season in charge.

The champion defender said he wanted to spend more time with his growing family.

MORE EASTERN FOOTBALL LEAGUE NEWS

KINGS REMAIN IN EFL DIVISION 1 FINALS MIX

MITCHAM SENDS MESSAGE TO DIVISION 2 FINALS RIVALS

THE STAT THAT COULD DEFINE SHARKS’ SEASON

SILVAN KEEPS ITS FINALS HOPES ALIVE

STANTON EXTENDS TENURE AT THE BASIN

His wife is due to have the couple’s second child on the eve of finals.

“The commitment you need, even at local footy level these days to put the time in and research opposition and just really spend time building relationships with your players is really hard,” Perry said.

“I probably found it hard, particularly with my job at the moment with one kid, let alone two.

“I don’t think it will be the end of my coaching career (but) it’s just not the right time to keep going.”

Perry is in his second season at the helm and has Upper Gully sitting half-a-game outside the top five with a 6-9 record after winning one of its first seven games.

The Kings made finals last year but lost experienced players Mike Smith and Tim Riseley to South Belgrave in the off-season.

“Losing a prelim last year, I kind of expected some players to hang around and drive us forward a little bit and then we ended up losing some, which confused me a little bit,” Perry said.

“It made pre-season and the time over the off-season really difficult to be able to recruit.

“We targeted younger players because they’re the future of the club but it just made it hard on how to approach the season.”

Joel Perry makes a spoil during his time at Vermont. Picture: Chris Eastman

Perry said he had been pleased with the progress of the club’s emerging talent.

“I think the club really needs someone from a teaching background or someone who can put just a little bit more time into the preparation and building the relationships with the players,” he said.

“It’s been a real challenge but I think they’ve come a long way and since Round 1 they’ve developed a lot.

“That has been something I’ve been pretty proud of … but the club is in a good space.

“We’re going to hold onto most players, and they’re all 18, 19 or 20 so once they get a bit older, another year or two, we should be building a pretty good group.

“It’s pretty set there for someone to come in with a good background and take the group a bit further.”

Perry said he was undecided if he would play on next year.

“I’ll be 35 next season,” he said.

“I’m happy playing at the club, I love playing at the club and I don’t want to change clubs again.

“I think I’ll stay at Upper but I’m not 100 per cent sure (about playing).”

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.