EFNL 2022: Mark Fisher appointed Upper Ferntree Gully coach

A former state and NAB League assistant will steer the Kings next season, as they embark on a new division in the Eastern league.

Upper Ferntree Gully has locked in its new senior coach, with a former state and NAB League assistant taking the reins.

Mark Fisher will lead the Kings in 2023, replacing outgoing coach Luke Tynan who stepped down at the end of the season.

Fisher led Outer East club Mount Evelyn from 2018 to 2022, stepping aside ahead of this season. He led the club to finals in Division 1 in 2019, with it placed second in 2021 when the campaign was wiped due to Covid.

Mark Fisher led Mount Evelyn from 2018 to 2022. Picture: AAP Image/James Ross

He spent close to a decade as an assistant at the Eastern Ranges from 2009 to ’18. Other roles have included head coach of Vic Metro’s under-16 side, midfield coach at Essendon’s VFL outfit and senior assistant at the Rowville Sports Academy under Darren Bewick.

The incoming mentor takes on an Upper Ferntree Gully side which finished winless at the foot of the table in Division 1 this year and has been relegated to Division 2 – the league’s third tier.

Club president Mark Godfrey said Fisher stood out among an exhaustive process.

“Just the way that he wants to go back to basics, he knows we haven’t had a good year but with our list he does see that there’s potential there,” Godfrey said.

“We’re going to do our best to try and pick up a couple of players of experience to help us move back up … we don’t want to be sitting down the bottom of Division 2 next year.

“He sees it as a bit of a challenge and thinks he’s got something to work with – he’s very big on culture.

“He’s also very keen on the under-19s and prepared to give them a crack as long as they’re prepared to do the work.

“He’s looking forward to the challenge.”

Fisher described the role as the “perfect fit”.

“After presenting my vision, game plan, culture template and general football philosophy to the club during the interview process and listening to the club’s needs with the current playing group, it became very clear to me that Upper Ferntree Gully was the club I wanted to coach in 2023,” he said in a statement.

But he’s under no illusions about the body of work ahead to turn the Kings around.

“I am under no illusions that the task ahead will be a huge challenge for all of us,” Fisher said.

“The club has gone back to second division after not winning a game in 2022. As a club we need to embrace the challenge ahead and work together as one.

“A young group that is driven to be the best they can be on and off the field will create their own standards, and if we drive hard enough and fully commit to change and embrace a different way to see and play the game then those standards should be at a very high level.”

Luke Tynan coached the Kings from 2020-22. Picture: Field of View Photography

Meanwhile, outgoing playing-coach Luke Tynan’s future at the club remains unconfirmed, with Godfrey previously telling Leader: “We’re in discussions with him about staying on (as a player), he likes the club.”

Fisher becomes the club’s fourth senior coach since 2019, following Joel Perry (2018-19), Stephen De Luca (2019-2020) and Luke Tynan (2020-2022).