New coach Rob Waters’ Gisborne return is 25 years in the making
Rob Waters returns to Gisborne as its senior coach, 25 years after departing as a player and the former North Melbourne VFL assistant coach has high hopes for the Bulldogs in 2020.
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New Gisborne coach Rob Waters’ return is almost 25 years in the making.
Waters last played for the Bulldogs in 1995 before embarking on a successful coaching career that has finally brought him back to Gardiner Reserve.
A two-time premiership mentor at Ballarat league club North Ballarat City, Waters has spent the past two seasons as an assistant with North Melbourne’s VFL team.
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He’s also had stints at NAB League outfit Greater Western Victoria Rebels and former VFL club North Ballarat.
Living locally and the lure of coaching his own team brought Waters back to replace Clinton Young.
“I live in Woodend and in the VFL and NAB League you play all different times and Sundays,” he said.
“I’ve been watching Gisborne the last couple of years and when the job became available I thought it was a no-brainer.
“My son plays for Gisborne in the junior program, it’s nice and close to home, and it’s a great family club.”
Young stepped down after pursuing coaching opportunities at a higher level following the season.
Waters will now get to work shaping a Gisborne list which made a preliminary final this season, going down to Eaglehawk by four points.
The new boss will have to replace star ruckman Josh Grabham, Callum Williamson and Jarryd Vernon, who have all crossed to RDFL club Riddell.
“It’s a great list, all local blokes, which is great for the community,” Waters said.
“A kick from the grand final, which was unlucky, so our expectations are to qualify for finals, but there’s a lot of work to do before the even the first game.
“We’ve retained most of the players, a couple have moved on — which happens at every club — and we’ll try to recruit ex-players to come back.
“We’re working on a few things we think we can improve on within the list, but it is the silly season.”
Gisborne president John Wood was pleased with the appointment of a highly-experienced mentor.
“I think he’s a very experienced coach and had a lot of success,” he said.
“With Clinton not reapplying for the position, we had some really high-calibre applicants, which was very pleasing.”
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