MPFNL: Hastings appoints Kevin Lylak as playing-coach

A Frankston YCW champion talks of the emotion behind his decision to take the Hastings coaching job — and why he’s so excited by a core group of young players at the Blues.

YCW coach Wayne Capp and co-captains Jie Coghlan and Kevin Lylak hold up the premiership cup in 2017. Picture: Mark Dadswell

New Hastings coach Kevin Lylak is ready to “go on a journey” at the Blues after making the biggest decision of his footy career.

The Frankston YCW premiership captain felt the time was right to launch his coaching career after 20 success-filled years at the Stonecats.

He will be a playing-coach at Hastings — and he admits making the crunch decision to leave YCW was difficult.

“I’d been at the club for over 20 years,’’ Lylak said.

“I was almost in tears when I had to make that phone call to Gooch (YC coach Paul Goonan) to say I was leaving.

Kevin Lylak played over 200 games for Frankston YCW. Picture: Derrick den Hollander

“Once I got those phones calls out of the way, all I got back was positivity.

“It’s my next step in my footy journey and they were really supportive.’’

Lylak, 32, said he always wanted to be a senior coach.

“Hastings reached out and I had a meeting with them, it was a tough week after our first meeting just thinking what to do,’’ he said.

“I had a chat to my wife and she said, ‘why not?’.

“I’m really looking forward to the opportunity, it’s exciting.

“I know they (Hastings) are coming from far back but that’s the exciting part of it, it’s a blank canvas.

“I feel like I can make a few changes that overtime will go a long way.”

Hastings official Terry Green (left) shakes on it with new coach Kevin Lylak. Picture: Facebook

Lylak ruled out poaching his Frankston YCW teammates to help strengthen Hastings.

“If guys want an opportunity I’m happy to have a chat but I’m not going to go trying to pull guys out from the club because I love the club so much, I want them to be successful and I hope they go on and win the flag next year,” he said.

“But if guys want to have a change then I’m happy to have a chat to them.”

Lylak played in seven premierships at Frankston YCW, and was captain in two of them.

He knows what it takes to be successful and has identified a core group of young players at Hastings that can drive the club forward.

“They’re itching for it and they want to learn and they’re willing to put the work in,’’ Lylak said.

“I’m excited to build those positive relationships with them and teach them everything I’ve learned over the years.’’

Hastings finished in 11th spot with a 3-15 record in MPFNL Division 2 this year.

“I just want to create a place where they want to play for Hastings and stay,’’ Lylak said.

“When clubs reach out to them and offer them more money I’d like them to say, ‘no, I’m staying because I’m loving footy so much’. That’s probably why I stayed at YC for as long as I did and I want to create that at Hastings.”

KEVIN LYLAK

- 200+ senior games

- 7x premiership player

- 6x captain (2 x premiership captain)

- 2018 VFL representative

- 3x MPNFL representative

- 2x Team of the Year