EFNL 2023: East Burwood parts ways with coach David Jensen
The Rams have made a shock call on their coach, with the club still in the fight to play finals in the Eastern league’s Division 2.
Eastern
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EAST BURWOOD and senior coach David Jensen have split, effective immediately.
The Eastern league Division 2 club informed the first-year Rams mentor earlier this week he would not be offered a contract for next season.
The club suffered a 50-point loss to Templestowe on Saturday after an upset to Knox the previous round.
Players were informed of the decision on Tuesday night at training, with the club offering Jensen the opportunity to coach out the season – which he declined.
The club is understood to be making coaching arrangements for the season’s remaining matches.
The shock move comes less than three weeks out from the finals with the Rams still a chance to make it – currently sitting sixth with an 8-8 record – just one win and percentage outside the top five with two rounds left.
Jensen believes recent losses sealed his fate.
“There were things outside of my control – right from Round 1, I had six to 26 players unavailable to choose from every single week and I think it was the losses that were my ultimate undoing,” Jensen said.
“But the club’s made their decision and I wish them all the best.”
Jensen joined the club in October last year, via Division 2 rival Ringwood where he served as senior assistant in the second half of the 2022 season – after splitting with Surrey Park as coach in the June.
Jensen declared his coaching career was over following a second in-season exit from a senior role.
“That’s my coaching career done,” he said.
“The amount of energy and time that you sacrifice to coach and the slack that your family have to pick up, it’s just not worth it, so that’s me done.
“I’m not going to go through it a third time.”
The outgoing coach wished the Rams’ players well.
“I sincerely wish all of the players all the success and they’re a great bunch of people,” Jensen said.
East Burwood has been contacted for comment.
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