EFNL 2022: David Jensen appointed East Burwood coach

The Eastern league Division 2 outfit has locked in an assistant from a rival club as its new senior coach, as he reveals his plans for the Rams.

East Burwood has unveiled its new mentor, with a familiar name returning to the senior coaching ranks.

Former Surrey Park coach David Jensen will lead the Eastern league Division 2 club next season, replacing outgoing coach Stuart Wynd who stood down at the end of the 2022 campaign.

Jensen joins the Rams via Division 2 rival Ringwood where he served as senior assistant in the second half of this season, after parting ways with Surrey Park in June.

David Jensen coached Surrey Park from 2020 until mid-2022.

He steered the Division 4 outfit following the 2019 season, leading the club to a top-two finish in 2021, previously coaching Ringwood’s reserves to a top-three finish in ’19.

Jensen inherits an East Burwood side which finished third on the ladder this season with a 13-5 record, falling to Ringwood in a preliminary final.

He said the club’s profile and emerging list, coupled with a desire to coach again made the Rams’ position an attractive prospect.

“They’re a very good list … they’re very young and there’s quite a few years of development ahead of them which is exciting,” Jensen said.

“They’re quite an iconic local footy club as well which was a big attraction also. It’s exciting to be a part of it.

“It’s just something that I enjoy and I just wanted to get back into it … I didn’t apply for many jobs, I was looking for something that was going to be fulfilling and was lucky enough to be appointed.”

East Burwood took on Ringwood in this year’s Division 2 preliminary final. Picture: George Salpigtidis

Jensen believes a knowledge of the clubs in the division having served at Ringwood would hold him in good stead.

“I think that’s part of the attraction – coaching in the same division,” he said.

“I believe I’ve got a pretty good knowledge, certainly of Ringwood. It’s a good, tight competition as well but we can see some strengths and weaknesses in all the teams we play, that we hope to exploit as best we can.”

Despite a 51-point preliminary final loss, Jensen is optimistic his group can make up the ground on runner-up Ringwood, as he looks to refine his side’s ball-movement and defence ahead of next season in the hunt for a top-two finish.

He said a key forward would be on the recruiting radar this off-season.

“I don’t think East Burwood are far behind at all – in fact I’m expecting a lot of improvement,” he said.

“We’re hoping for good things … the list is very young, and then if we can develop them and change the game style where it needs to be tweaked, there’ll be room to improve.”