Local footy: Troy Schwarze puts hand up to coach again

One of local footy’s most successful coaches this century has signalled his intention to return to coaching, revealing why and an ambition to achieve more.

Troy Schwarze wants to coach again.

Troy Schwarze says he has much more to offer as a football coach.

The former St Kilda player wants to be at the helm of a local club in 2025.

Schwarze achieved stunning success as a coach in the Mornington Peninsula league between 2007-17, steering Sorrento to six premierships in 10 seasons, including eight grand final appearances.

Now he wants to go again.

“I’m keen to do it,” he said.

“Probably a local club.

“I miss the game and I still think I’ve got something to offer from a coaching point of view.”

With local clubs already looking ahead to next season, Schwarze wants to see what’s around.

He said he’s prepared to help build a club back up, or help a contender take the next step.

“As long as they’re a good bunch and they’re run well it doesn’t bother me if they’re contending, not contending or have a group of young blokes,” he said.

Troy Schwarze (right) with the 2012 premiership cup.

“It doesn’t really matter.

“As long as you’ve got the support and you have a junior program coming in and feeding then you can always work with stuff.

“The junior program is the biggest thing.”

Schwarze, who lives on the Peninsula, said he applied for the Frankston VFL head coaching position last year.

He was director of football at Peninsula Grammar last year.

“Developing the young guys is what I enjoyed,” he said.

“The winning (at Sorrento) was obviously amazing but watching young blokes develop and get better and then see them work on things and produce it game day and help us get better was always what I enjoyed the most.”

2004: Troy Schwarze is about to kick the winning goal.

Schwarze rides it home.

Schwarze, 42, played 71 games for St Kilda.

He’s best remembered for his heroics 20 years ago against the Brisbane Lions at Telstra Dome, when he kicked a dramatic 55m goal inside the final minute to give the Saints a one-point win.

Schwarze was 24 when Sorrento signed him as player-coach in December, 2006.