Eastern league: Ex-South Croydon coach Luke McCormick to lead Lilydale in 2022

Eastern league Division 1 outfit Lilydale has appointed a former Premier Division mentor as its coach for 2022. LATEST HERE.

Locked in: Luke McCormick to coach Lilydale in 2022. Picture: Eastern Sporting Images

Lilydale has appointed its senior coach for 2022, with former South Croydon mentor Luke McCormick to lead the Eastern league Division 1 outfit.

The appointment comes after first-year Falcons coach Brendan Fulton stepped away from the role for personal reasons earlier this season, with assistant Alan Love since serving as caretaker coach.

McCormick stood down from the South Croydon position in January after two full seasons across 2018 and ‘19.

The former East Ringwood star guided the Premier Division club to a grand final in his first year at the helm, before a semi-final appearance in 2019.

He previously held assistant coaching roles with East Ringwood and the Eastern Ranges, as well as leading Outer East club Monbulk as senior coach from 2009 to 2012.

McCormick recently landed at the Falcons as an assistant to Love following Fulton’s departure, on the back of a discussion with Lilydale football operations manager, Steve Potts.

“I knew Luke wasn’t (coaching), so I went out on a bit of a limb and contacted him,” Potts said.

“He (McCormick) said ‘What do you want me to do?’ and I said ‘I just want to see if you can be an assistant, more as a mentor for young kids’, because he’s worked a lot at the Eastern Ranges, and obviously his last three years at South Croydon as well. He said ‘No worries’.”

But it wasn’t until last week that the former Bulldogs mentor had committed to the head role.

Potts said he holds existing family connections at the club, while he also coached several of the current players at the Ranges.

Beau Mitchener is one of a number of Falcons players McCormick mentored at the Eastern Ranges. Picture: Stuart Milligan

“A month ago, I discussed with him whether he was ready to start coaching again full-time, and he let me know Friday of last week. It was all kept pretty quiet, actually,” Potts said.

“He’s got good relationships at the club – his brother-in-law (Andrew Del Biondo) is on the committee and his nephew (Nick Del Biondo) plays in the seniors.”

McCormick enjoyed a decorated playing career, featuring in East Ringwood’s top division premiership in 2002, winning the best and fairest that season.

Originally from Canberra, he began his senior football with Ainslie and the NSW-ACT Rams, before being drafted to North Melbourne in 1996 where he spent two seasons on the list. He later spent two seasons with VFL club, Port Melbourne.

Potts said McCormick would continue to assist Love this season before transitioning into the senior role for 2022.

Lilydale has won just two matches from 11 starts this year, and sits second-last, in ninth, on the ladder.

“The energy and enthusiasm of most importantly the current players, but also everyone around the club is exciting. Looking forward to next year – but also supporting ‘Lovey’ (Alan Love) and the boys to get more wins on the board this year,” McCormick said in a club statement.