Mernda coach Robert Fletcher discusses local footy player retention and excitement for Demons’ future
Re-signed Mernda coach Robert Fletcher has identified one key threat to local footy clubs’ ability to keep players in 2021 and it’s not the reduced salary cap or cashed-up rivals.
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Mernda coach Robert Fletcher believes there’s one big threat to local footy clubs’ post COVID-19.
Fletcher, who re-signed for 2021 this week, said it wasn’t rival clubs poaching players but work commitments luring players away when life returns to normal.
While a player could earn $200 a match in the Northern Football League’s third division, they could potentially earn double that with weekend work.
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With the coronavirus pandemic forcing millions of Australians out of work, the chance to recover financially would take precedence over sport.
“For a couple of hundred bucks they would have played footy, but now that might have to drop to $150 or $100, so they might say I’ll go work on a Saturday and earn three or four hundred bucks,” Fletcher said.
“It’s not just at Mernda, the biggest problem will be blokes will work rather than play footy, which is fair enough.
“Some guys haven’t worked over this period we’ve been shutdown, so that money will be very important to them when they’re able to go back.
“These young blokes, they play footy and an extra $150 is great, but a lot haven’t had much work so when they do go back full-time they might have to work every Saturday.
“My motto is family first, work second and footy third.”
Mernda had entered 2020 as a genuine finals contender after a strong recruiting campaign, with Fletcher replacing Paul Derrick as coach.
Shannon Smith, Jacob Austin, Bryce Kimulatis (all Craigieburn), Jarrod King (Bundoora), Lane Tucker (Thomastown) and Josh Mazzarella (Watsonia) all arrived over the summer.
Demons best-and-fairest winner Brad Dimech’s departure to EDFL club Roxburgh Park was the most notable loss.
Fletcher said the pre-season excitement around the club reminded him of his premiership-winning days as an assistant coach at Craigieburn.
“I was a little bit unsure about how blokes would take me coming on after a life member, a legend of the footy club in Dezzy parting way,” he said.
“It was fantastic, so I was very excited leading into the practice matches.
“I probably haven’t felt that excitement for a long time, probably since Craigieburn came into a season a chance to win the flag.
“It’s been a bit frustrating but we’ve got to do what we need to in these times.
“Our pre-season was fantastic, so the buzz is already there and now it’s just a matter of getting them back on the track and continuing through to the start of the season.”