John Garrard returns to Eltham Turtles with unfinished business a decade after leading the VAFA club to two grand finals

JOHN Garrard will pick up where he left off a decade ago after returning to Eltham Collegians as coach.

Eltham Turtles will have a familiar face in charge next year with John Garrard returning to the VAFA club. Picture: Sarah Matray.

JOHN Garrard will pick up where he left off a decade ago after returning to Eltham Collegians as coach.

Garrard was in charge when the Turtles reached consecutive Victorian Amateur Football Association grand finals in 2007 (Division 4) and 2008 (Division 3).

The 37-year-old has since had stints at Northern Football League clubs Panton Hill and Banyule, where he served as an assistant coach this year.

Garrard has returned to Eltham with a sense of unfinished business as he strives to achieve the premiership he was unable to secure in his previous tenure.

“When the opportunity to go back into senior coaching came up at the Turtles, I couldn’t refuse the opportunity to finish what I couldn’t do and work with some new guys as well that weren’t there 10 years ago,” Garrard said.

The Turtles finished eighth in Division 2 this year, avoiding relegation by 4.83 per cent after finishing equal with Glen Eira with a 7-11 record.

Garrard had planned on staying with Banyule after being part of its NFL Division 3 premiership success, but jumped at the offer to rejoin Eltham after being approached by several of his former teammates.

“I knew half the guys, knew what the club was like and I have been there before,” he said.

“I wasn’t able to fulfil the end goal back then and the opportunity has come up to hopefully succeed this time around.”

Garrard describes himself as an “old-school coach” in the Kevin Sheedy or Rodney Eade mould, prioritising contested football and a physical approach from his players.

He said the Turtles would be out to add depth to their list, believing competition for spots was vital for the club to climb back into finals contention.

“When I was previously coach, probably the greatest asset we had would have been depth in the team and everyone was competing for positions,” he said.

“There was probably a group of 10 players in the ones and 15 players in the seconds all fighting for positions.”

Garrard has replaced Damian Bradley, who stepped down at the end of the 2017 campaign.