MPNFL: Adrian Connolly outlines his plans for Bonbeach
New Bonbeach coach Adrian Connolly talks about the “bizarre’’ circumstances leading to his appointment, his desire to keep footy simple and the impact star signing David Armitage will have.
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Adrian Connolly says he’s rapt to be the new coach of Bonbeach, but describes the circumstances leading to his appointment as “bizarre’’.
Only three months ago he was appointed coach of Sandringham in the VFL.
It was a wonderful opportunity for the 50-year-old after two decades in the coaching caper.
But Connolly’s reign as Zebras coach was short-lived. A little over two weeks later the VFL season was scrapped amid the coronaviris crisis and his future was up in the air.
Then came the Bonbeach opportunity — and Connolly wanted it, keen to get back to local footy, “where all the action is’’.
His early dealings with Bonbeach only made him want the Sharks job even more.
“Just the way they ran the coaching process, you can tell they are really organized,’’ Connolly said.
“That was up there with some of the harder ones I’ve done. They were very well-organized. They certainly did their due diligence and certainly put me through the ringer in terms of the getting the job, it wasn’t just a case of turn up and say a few things, I had to sell the vision and plan…they certainly knew what they wanted.’’
Connolly got the Bonny job around the same time he would have been finishing off the season with Sandringham. He saw the irony.
“It is bizarre,’’ he said.
“I had a great time at Sandy and met some great people and was lucky enough to coach some great kids. But I reckon the VFL is going in a direction now where I don’t know if I’ve got that time and maybe energy.
“I think it’s going to become a highly developmental competition, obviously with less recruiters around and recruiting staff. I think they’re going to try and push everyone into the VFL system.
“For myself I wanted to get back to club level and coach and put a few of those things I learnt off some really good coaches in that system, and get back to where all the action is.’’
Connolly takes charge of a Bonbeach side seemingly poised to challenge for the title in MPNFL Division 1 next season.
The Sharks finished third last season and the addition of ex-Saints midfielder David Armitage will give them extra bite.
“David will be great for the group,’’ Connolly said.
“Not only will he be a good player but he will be a great teacher and I think that’s what they probably need, a few of those younger blokes.
“Not only to get someone to play with his great experience and leadership — and he’s just a great bloke — but he’ll also be a great teacher. I think that will complement some of the young talent that’s coming through.
“The rest, they’ve been really committed, I’ve nearly rung the whole list in a couple of weeks and they are all committed and keen to go. I’ve been really impressed. There’s an energy about the group. Now you’ve got to put that into a bit of footy action.’’
Connolly said he plans to coach in a style that brings out natural talent in players.
“(Previous coach) Steve Hughes has done a great job in the five years he was there so he’s put a lot of the foundations in,’’ he said.
“I think it would be detrimental of me to come in and try and implement a new system. So I’m certainly going to take parts of what he’s done and then add a little bit of my flair and edge about how I like footy to be played — just make some subtle tweaks to the way they play, to maybe their systems.
“Footy is pretty simple when it’s all said and done. I learnt that in the VFL system.
“We think there’s all these structures, processes and planning and stuff but in the end you’ve got a split second to make a decision with the footy — and I’ll be really big on that as well, trusting blokes to play footy and enjoy it, make decisions when they’ve got the ball and back themselves. It won’t be too complicated.’’
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