NFL 2018: Hurstbridge appoints Jarrod Tilley as new senior coach
THE anxiety of fighting relegation on the last day of the Northern Football League season will drive Hurstbridge to avoid the same fate next year, says new coach Jarrod Tilley.
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THE anxiety of fighting relegation on the last day of the Northern Football League season will drive Hurstbridge to avoid the same fate next year, says new coach Jarrod Tilley.
The Bridges staved off the drop to Division 2 with a last-round victory over Whittlesea this season, retaining their place in the top flight for 2019.
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“We have gone hopefully through the tougher time and will use it as motivation going forward,” Tilley said.
“We don’t want to have to be in that position of having to win the last game to stay up.”
Tilley, who has been an assistant at Ben Frilay Oval, has replaced Trevor Little as senior coach.
A former player at Bundoora, Epping and Hurstbridge, the 33-year-old conceded 2018 had been a tumultuous year for Hurstbridge.
But he added any issues were “in the past” as he looks to put his stamp on the Bridges’ list.
“We have spent the last two years in Division 1,” he said.
“We understand now what it takes to be a strong side in Div 1.
“Staying there was a must for the club, that’s where we wanted to be. It was a massive last game and we got the job done which was good.”
In the mould of four-time grand finalist Macleod, Tilley said greater depth was what separated the premiership contenders from the rest.
“You can’t rely on certain players. I think the more even and balanced side you can get, with everyone on the same page, that’s what it takes to go forward,” he said.
“You don’t just need one or two superstars, you need a really balanced side to be successful.”
Tilley hopes former Collingwood and Western Bulldogs forward Travis Cloke will play on, but his availability could be dictated by work commitments.
“I think he really enjoyed playing with the group this year,” he said.
“I’d hope it would be with us. But with where he’s at, his work will come first, which is understandable.
“We just have to wait until then to find out.”
He rubbished mid-season speculation several players would move on, adding the club’s efforts to retain its senior group were “nearly done”.
“Then we’ll sit down and assess what we need to target and try and be specific in what we look for,” he said.
“It has been positive from the group we have already got and it shows they all want to buy-in together.”
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