Heidelberg West appoints reserves premiership coach Michael Missen
After guiding Heidelberg West’s reserves to a drought-breaking premiership, Michael Missen will lead the Hawks’ senior team in 2020, confident the club can snap a 25-year finals drought.
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Heidelberg West has rewarded reserves coach Michael Missen for leading the club to it’s first premiership since 1966.
Missen will take over the senior coaching reins at Heidelberg Park after the Hawks parted ways with Cameron Van Florestein post season.
The Hawks claimed the NFL Division 3 reserves flag with a 15-point victory over Old Eltham Collegians after also finishing minor premier, losing just one game this season.
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The senior team started the season strongly, winning it’s first five games, but faded in the second half of the season to finish sixth.
Missen was excited by the opportunity to continue to grow the club.
“It’s fantastic, to be honest, pretty exciting,” he said.
“I have a fair understanding of the group already and that’s probably what helped me get the job, having a recommendation from the group.
“We’ve got a good group of guys aged between 23 and 26 … so being able to communicate with them, finding a way to get on their level and being able to impart the way I go about footy is really important.”
Heidelberg West football manager Terry Doukas said there was no doubt Missen had earned the job.
“It wasn’t based on the romantic notion of someone who’s been at the club for a long time, we wanted to stress he’s done it on merit,” he said.
“He’s taken over a team three years ago that had only won a couple of games … and two years later made a grand final and then a premiership this year.
“The appointment is based on skill set, desire, a readiness but more importantly a really good footy brain mixed in with an understanding of the people and culture.”
After another impressive season, Jarryd Coulson claimed his third straight Division 3 league best-and-fairest, while Ryan Gall completed the double with the reserves league medal.
The Hawks are confident Coulson would remain with the club in 2020 as it looks to bolster its ranks and snap a 25-year senior finals drought.
“We are looking to add a few more pieces, we’ve got a few areas we’re looking to improve,” Missen said.
“We’re not looking for just anybody, we’re looking for the right person — the right fit — for our culture.”
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