EFNL 2023: New Croydon coach Rhett Jordon reveals plans for Division 2 club

Incoming Croydon coach Rhett Jordon is confident the club bounce back next season after just five wins in 2023 – spearheaded by a wealth of emerging names.

CROYDON has turned to a Norwood premiership hero as its next senior coach – and he’s bullish the club can set its sights on sustained success.

Rhett Jordon has been unveiled to lead Blues in 2024, after calling time at the Norsemen where he won a premiership in the league’s top division in 2014.

Jordon, who captained Norwood in a career spanning a decade and some 150 games at the club, takes over from outgoing coach Morris D’Alessandro, who stood down after six years in charge.

The incoming mentor also brings previous experience as a player with Northern league power West Preston-Lakeside and VFL club Coburg.

He played his junior football with Croydon and was affiliated with the club as a VFL player, and said senior coaching had long been on his radar.

Rhett Jordon in action for Norwood. Picture: Davis Harrigan

“For me, it’s always been in the works … that 2015-16 time was why I went out to West Preston-Lakeside in the first place, to get that opportunity to get a taste as a playing-assistant, and taking on the playing-coach role for about five games,” Jordon said.

“From there I’ve been pretty blessed … I’ve had a wealthy group of coaches – I had Jade Rawlings, Craig McRae, Dave Newett, Adam Potter (in the VFL), then back to the Eastern footy league, Denis Knight, Pat Bowden, and Marty Pask for the last five years.”

The midfielder will serve as a playing-coach, with Croydon to compete in Division 2 in 2024 after the bottom two clubs suffered relegation from Division 1 at the end of the season.

The Blues finished with a 5-13 record in ninth spot.

Jordon revealed his shift to the league’s third tier allowed him to pursue the next phase of his football career.

Rhett Jordon celebrates a goal for Norwood in the 2013 finals.

“I still wanted to keep playing footy … but felt the opportunity to take that next step coaching-wise, I probably couldn’t give my all with playing and coaching at Premier level with a young family and the demands.”

Jordon highlighted the wealth of talent on the Blues’ list, with Riley Costantino, Fraser Smith and Matt McKenzie selected in the Division 1 Team of the Year, while Blake Podesta took out the under-19.5 league best and fairest.

“The list is still strong – the ‘19s made a grand final, the twos made finals … it’s not like they’ve bottomed out and they’re on the way down,” Jordon said.

“There’s a lot of talent coming through. The club’s got a lot of positives from the 16-year-old group through to that 23, 24, 25-year-old bracket so there’s definitely potential.

“As far as I’m aware, they’ve been able to hold onto 80 to 90 per cent of the list so far.”

Jordon declared he wouldn’t “sell the farm” for immediate success in favour of long-term development.

“Obviously we want to have success and win, but it’s not like I’m here for a year to have success and see you later,” he said.

“We’re going to look at development, improvement and long-term success.

“No matter what level of footy you play, the ultimate goal is to win a flag, and below that, you have to play finals … but everyone else is going to be saying that – it’s more about how we go about it and approach it – that’s probably going to be the bigger thing.

“If we do everything right and look after our own backyard, results should look after themselves, in my opinion.”