Eastern league: New Glen Waverley coach Brett Gatehouse reveals plans for 2022

New Glen Waverley coach Brett Gatehouse has begun preparation for next season – and it’s set to be a family affair.

Glen Waverley Hawks president Matt Hollard (left) with new coach Brett Gatehouse (right). Picture: Glen Waverley Hawks FC

Incoming Glen Waverley Hawks coach Brett Gatehouse says a heavy focus on depth and fitness is on the agenda as he prepares for season 2022.

Gatehouse was recently unveiled as the Hawks’ new mentor, making the move from St Mary’s Salesian which he coached from 2019-21. He played a decade at the VAFA Premier C club, where he’s the club’s longest-serving captain.

Brett Gatehouse works the St Mary’s Salesian huddle. Picture: Supplied

The Glen Waverley Hawks finished the Eastern league Division 3 season with a 2-7-1 record from the shortened campaign, and Gatehouse said a push for youth and improved fitness are in his immediate plans.

“There’s a lot of boys in their prime (on the Glen Waverley list) and then probably a little bit older,” Gatehouse said.

“My plan for this year is to get in as much youth as possible, quality youth, and I’ve already had some good chats with some very good 19 and 20-year-olds.

“My aim is to get in a few of them along with a couple of experienced heads to be competitive (next year) and any more than that is a bonus I reckon, and push for the next year to have a real crack at it, I reckon.

“The big thing that stood out to me was, just before the first lockdown break, they (Glen Waverley) were stuck on the two-and-a-half-wins, but had a percentage of about 97.

“They were really in games for a long period of time, and just got pipped at the end. That (fitness) is something we’ll work on, especially with our (bigger) ground.”

The club has also confirmed it will field an under-19s side in 2022, with Scott Gatehouse – brother of Brett – confirmed as coach.

And he’ll also serve as the new Hawk mentor’s senior assistant, while younger brother, Luke, is slated to play for the under-19s – a merged outfit with Mt Waverley.

Scott Gatehouse will serve as Brett’s senior assistant in 2021. Picture: Supplied

Scott Gatehouse played almost 150 games for St Mary’s Salesian across the seniors and reserves, and previously served as Brett’s senior assistant from 2019-21, also coaching the reserves from 2018-21. He’ll run the Hawks’ bench when Brett takes the field, likely at half-back.

“(Scott) sees things that I might not see and I see things that he mightn’t see. He’s going to be fully in charge on the sidelines and having someone on the side that I can trust will help with me being on the field,” Gatehouse said.

The former St Mary’s Salesian skipper pointed to the strong influences of former coaches Erwin Leyden and Jess Sinclair on his own coaching methods, as he aims to build Glen Waverley into a contender.

Leyden coached Old Melburnians to a Premier B flag in ‘09 before returning a struggling St Mary’s Salesian to the finals in 2013. Former AFL Docker and Kangaroo Sinclair led St Mary’s Salesian for three years from 2014, with the club featuring in finals in two of those seasons.

“Something that I’ll really take across (from Leyden), is just teaching the simple things and getting them done really well,” Gatehouse said.

“Sinclair, his planning for game-day and all the stuff he put in place, game-plans, watching back tapes, the things he would pick up were just ridiculous. That really made me take a closer look at things, and just the standards he set. We got on like a house on fire, and I hung off everything he said. I took plenty from the both of them.

“At my old club we had a pretty successful period without getting the premiership over a 10-year span, and it seems Glen Waverley have had the same kind of thing.

“Chatting with the president (Matt Hollard), we’re all on the same page.”