Andrew Fairchild calls time on his Kinglake tenure, proud of the club’s growth
Andrew Fairchild is proud of his achievements at Kinglake but believes its time for a new voice at the club and has set his sights on a new challenge.
Northern
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After five years in the top job Andrew Fairchild believes Kinglake needs a new leader.
The departing Lakers coach said a need for more family time and a new coaching challenge were behind his decision to step down.
Fairchild was appointed in 2019, taking over a club that had finished second last in Outer East Division 2, and turned it into premiership contender.
Kinglake finished third in his first season in charge, was on top of the ladder when the 2021 season was called off and lost a grand final in 2022.
The club returned to the Northern Football Netball League this season and enjoyed immediate success, winning its first five games and finished third before bowing out in an elimination final.
Fairchild said the club was well positioned to contend again in 2024 with a new coach at the helm.
“I’ve had a great five years, the club gave me an opportunity to pursue a passion and turn it into something I really want to focus on,” he said.
“I’ve loved every minute but five years of the same voice and same message can get stale – not saying it did – and my family, as most coaches would attest to, took a backseat.
“It’s disappointing we couldn’t get there (a premiership) but I’m really proud of what we’ve been able to achieve.
“Everyone said ‘it’s sad we couldn’t win a flag’ and while ultimately you play footy for that reason what we’ve been able to do up there is create a healthy environment that’s sustainable.
“It’s a family club, everyone is welcome, and the friendships are equally as important as winning a flag and being no good the next year.
“A grand final, preliminary final, elimination final and a COVID season when we were in the box seat to win it, so I’m proud of it and forever grateful.”
Fairchild will now take on an assistant coaching role at Whittlesea, a club he captained to a premiership in 2015.
He will work under Garry Ramsay, keen to develop his craft before looking to take on another coaching role.
“I don’t think it’s the world’s best kept secret but there’s an opportunity there for me,” he said.
“As a coach, I’d been assistant for a couple of years while I was playing and stepped into a coaching role with not much experience and everything you do you try to figure out on your own.
“If I want to continue coaching in the future, which I do when the time is right, it’s a good opportunity to step back and learn, develop and grow and it’s also two minutes from my house, so I get more family time.
“The planets aligned with the family time and the opportunity to learn under someone like Garry, who has been one of the best coaches in the past 20 years, back at a place I love.”
After reaching the Outer East Division 2 grand final last season, Fairchild was always confident his team would be competitive in the NFNL.
The Lakers lost just three games in the home-and-away season, usually good enough for a double chance, but were pushed to third behind Mernda and Laurimar.
The season ended with a surprise loss to Old Eltham Collegians in the elimination final.
Fairchild is confident the key pillars of the playing group will remain together to go again in 2024.
“The club will still be strong, I had a good chat with the boys, a massive chunk are keen to go again together,” he said.
“That was really important to me, I didn’t want to be one of those coaches who comes in, brings a few players along and then when he leaves the backside of the club falls out.
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“I know a lot of people thought Leigh Gilbert would leave when I did but he’s still got the passion to go again and keen to see it through and Rohan King is another one who will keep going.
“They’re not far away and maybe a freshen up with a new voice is what they need to take the next step, if they stay around then the club’s in a good spot for a new coach to come in.”
Gilbert finished second in the league goalkicking with 44 majors, while Damien Pywell booted 38 to finish fifth.
Captain Bailey Robinson in a contender for the league best-and-fairest after an outstanding campaign and would be in line for Team of the Year honours along with Gilbert, Tom Clarke and Ben White.
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