NFL 2018: Coach Garry Ramsay excited for Montmorency challenge

GARRY Ramsay discusses the similarities between his former club Macleod and Montmorency as he plots to lead the Magpies to their first premiership in four decades.

Garry Ramsay in his new colours after being appointed as Montmorency coach.

THERE had been few signs of Macleod’s imminent rise to a modern powerhouse of the Northern Football League when Garry Ramsay arrived in 2012.

After claiming the Division 2 premiership in 2009, the Roos finished no higher than seventh in the next three seasons.

NFL 2018: GARRY RAMSAY THE MAN FOR MONTMORENCY

HOW MACLEOD BECAME A POWERHOUSE UNDER RAMSAY

THE LATEST COACHING AND PLAYER MOVES IN LOCAL FOOTY

What has unfolded since has made Macleod the envy of most NFL clubs.

The Roos just missed out on a top-five finish in Ramsay’s first season in charge — 2013 — before embarking on five consecutive finals series and reaching four successive grand finals.

The 50-year-old can see parallels between where Macleod was six years ago and his new club Montmorency.

“The ladder position is really similar from when I took over,” Ramsay said.

“Just the focus of the two clubs. Macleod said, ‘we just want you to develop our own kids’.

“It wasn’t about winning a premiership. More or less the direction was to develop their own.

“I have got that direction from Montmorency as well.

“They’ve said, ‘we really want a coach that will develop our own and develop our young players’.

“That suits me beautifully. It’s a really similar job description from what I had at Macleod and that is what excites me.”

Garry Ramsay (left) celebrates leading Macleod to a drought-breaking flag with captain Kane Shaw in 2015. Picture: Hamish Blair

Ramsay steered the Roos to their first Division 1 premiership in 44 years in 2015 with a team largely consisting of talent who had progressed through the junior ranks at De Winton Park.

During his six-year reign at Macleod, Montmorency’s under-19 team reached four grand finals and the club’s under-17s qualified for five finals series.

“There’s a lot of upside with their junior programs,” Ramsay said.

“Now it’s just being able to marry the two up successfully to make sure none of the kids slip through the cracks.”

A triple premiership player with Eltham, Ramsay has built a reputation as one of metropolitan football’s premier coaches since taking his first job at Panton Hill in 2000.

He has had two stints at the Redbacks, was in charge of Watsonia for a year and led Lower Plenty to the Division 2 flag in 2011.

Garry Ramsay with captains Matt Dennis and Jesse Donaldson after leading the NFL representative team to a win. Picture: Mark Wilson

“My main interest in coaching Montmorency is there’s a really good junior program down there and I think there’s a really good breeding ground to build sustainable success and by using a lot of their own kids,” Ramsay said.

Ramsay’s first season with the Magpies will mark 40 years since their last Division 1 premiership in 1979.

NFL 2018: WEST PRESTON REVELS IN HISTORIC FLAG DOUBLE

NFL LEGEND BLAIR HARVEY OUT TO BUILD ON LEGACY AS COACH

NFL 2018: MACLEOD LOCKS IN RAMSAY’S REPLACEMENT

Montmorency has only played finals once since losing the top flight decider to Bundoora in 2013, finishing ninth, sixth and seventh (twice) in the past four years.

“There’s definitely an expectancy to climb the ladder straight away,” Ramsay said.

“Just because we are going to develop our own, doesn’t mean we are going to say it is all right to get beaten.

“We plan on developing players that expect to win every week.

“Healthy development is to actually aim high, rather than cop out and say ‘we are going to go through a development phase’.

“We are going to go through a development phase while we win. They are going to be expected to win every week.”

Garry Ramsay also enjoyed premiership success while coach of Lower Plenty. Picture: Robert Mckechnie

Ramsay has replaced Ben Haynes, who stepped down after four years in the coaching hot seat.

The veteran coach said he would “forever be thankful” for his six-year stint at Macleod, but felt a change would be mutually beneficial.

“It will be healthy for them to hear a different voice,” he said.

“And probably healthy for me to teach what I do to a different group.

“I really think for both of us to keep going, you couldn’t have got a better separation.

“It was all done honestly, amicably and I will always have that special affiliation at the same time.

“But … I plan on giving my 100 per cent dedication to Montmorency and the development of their players now.”

MORE LOCAL FOOTY

CLUBS DELIVER VERDICT ON TURTLES’ BID TO JOIN NFL

WATSONIA NAMES LATTOUF AS NEW DIVISION 2 MENTOR

FITZROY STARS NEW COACH LANDS RECRUITING TARGETS