MPFNL 2023: Rye to get new coach and recruits after rugged season in Division 2

Rye has outlined a plan to bounce back from its winless season, revealing coaching and recruiting news and the status of star player Billy Hartung.

Billy Hartung takes a kick for Rye. Picture Al Dillon

Rye is in the market for a new coach after Stephen Ryan stepped down.

The Demons endured a winless season in MPFNL Division 2 but are already in talks with prospective coaches and recruits for 2024.

They are also hopeful of retaining star recruit, ex-AFL midfielder Billy Hartung, who is waiting to see who the next coach is before deciding on his immediate future.

Hartung played nine games for Rye this season, featuring in the best players on five occasions.

Rye vice president and football manager Scott Beel said the club was working hard to fill the senior coaching position.

“We’re talking to a few blokes at the moment and we hope to have an appointment in the next two weeks,” he said.

“There are a couple of non-playing coaches and a couple of playing coaches.

“The two non-playing coaches aren’t from our league, they’re from another league. We’re just seeing if they can commit to a bit of travel.”

Rye players get around Adam Kirkwood in the last round. Picture: Facebook

Beel said Rye was also talking to “five or six’’ potential recruits for next year, with a back-up ruckman, a key position forward and defender and on ballers on the club’s shopping list.

“We’ve got the nucleus, we had 35 registered under 19s this year, so we’ve got a heap of kids,’’ Beel said.

“We’ve just got to keep them and also give them some senior big bodies to help, guys around 27 to 30, that’s who we are targeting.”

Beel said Ryan has offered to stay on next season and be an assistant coach.

“One of the good things is having the current coach who’s saying, ‘hey, I’m sticking around, I’m here to help you, I’m not going anywhere, I just can’t do the senior job’,’’ Beel said.

“The club’s in a good position off the field, stable, good committee. We’re hoping by early September to announce a new coach.

“We’re probably leaning towards more a playing-coach but there are a couple of non-playing coaches that we’re talking to as well.”

Rye copped some heavy defeats this season, Beel labelling it a tough season.

“We thought we’d win some games of footy, no doubt,’’ he said.

“To not win a game of footy was hard work. But sometimes you’ve got to go through these hard years to make the good years good.

“We know where we are at. We won’t be down for long, we’ve got a heap of good young kids. With smart recruiting and a new coach I think we’ll be up and about fairly quickly.”

Rye champion Adam Kirkwood looks likely to retire after a superb 250-game career.