Local footy: EDFL club Rupertswood appoints Arron Bray as coach
The Essendon District Football League’s newest club has decided who will lead it next season after attracting a quality field of coaching candidates.
Local Footy
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Arron Bray will guide Rupertswood into a new era in the Essendon District Football League.
The experienced mentor has been appointed coach of the Division 1 outfit and links up with the club after a break from coaching.
Bray steered Broadford to consecutive preliminary final appearances in the Riddell District league in 2015 and 2016 and also led the competition’s interleague team to victories over West Gippsland and the Central Highlands.
The Sharks claimed the 2019 RDFL premiership under Nick Ash but will contest the EDFL’s second tier next season after they were given the green light to switch leagues.
President Brad Pietromonaco said Bray was the standout candidate from a quality field.
He has been locked into the top job for the next two seasons, but Rupertswood hopes the union will last much longer.
“He’s coached quite of a few of our players in interleague over the years,” Pietromonaco said.
“He’s coached against us, knew how to breakdown a game plan when Broadford beat us five years ago in a prelim and also relates very well to the boys, the under-18s and works very well with the kids.
“All the coaches we interviewed were great candidates, but we thought ‘Skip’ (Bray) would jell with the playing group the best.”
Pietromonaco said the Sharks’ playing group had a significant say in the appointment.
“The leadership group sat in on the interview process … from what the players were reporting back to us, he would fit in the best with our young group moving forward,” he said.
“We’ve listened to the players through this whole process of moving to the EDFL, Division 1 and coaching.
“If you don’t listen to them, we’re not all on the same page.”
Bray was a top player at Longwood and also featured in a senior flag for Bonnie Doon.
Pietromonaco said Bray missed coaching “big time” after two years off and was attracted to Rupertswood’s move to the EDFL.
Division 1 is shaping as a hotly-contested premiership race, with East Keilor, Airport West, Tullamarine and Westmeadows among the clubs with formidable senior squads.
“From what I’ve heard so far, (Bray’s) networking is great and he’s already speaking to quite a few players, which is good,” Pietromonaco said.
“We have a young group, we know it’s going to be hard and it’s up to the coach now.”
Premiership players Todd Podolczak and Brett Chambers have retired.
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