Reservoir searching for a new coach after parting with Jason Hamilton

Northern league strugglers Reservoir is searching for its third coach in as many seasons after Jason Hamilton parted ways with the club.

Reservoir coach Jason Hamilton. Picture: George Salpigtidis

Reservoir is looking for its third coach in as many seasons after parting ways with Jason Hamilton.

Despite having a year to run on his contract, Hamilton decided to walk away following a string of disagreements with the NFL Division 3 club’s committee.

“We knocked heads about the future of the club and at the end of the day I got a phone call saying they were willing to release me from the second year of my contract.

“Every idea I came up with this year, like a dress code and other stuff, it just got knocked on its head.

“I was willing to fulfil my contract because there was talk there will be a couple of new committee members and they were talking about having a real crack in 2023, their 100th year.

Reservoir coach Jason Hamilton. Picture: George Salpigtidis

“I guess, the current day committee decided we were going in different directions and I was asked to leave.”

Reservoir president Luke Bryant did not return calls.

Appointed before the cancelled 2020 season, Hamilton was the Mustangs’ third coach since returning from recess in 2017, following Aaron Collins (2017-18) and David Nelson (2019).

The club finished winless for the third straight season in 2021 and will lose its best player with Nick Gregson returning to Tasmania.

Back-to-back 173-point losses to start the season were two of seven 100-point losses in 12 matches as a crippling injury toll hit hard.

Reservoir used a staggering 50 players this season with only three – Jack Smith, Tom Hollaway and Tom Zerella – featuring in every match.

Even Hamilton was required to pull on the boots for a game this season but couldn’t fault his players’ dedication and determination in the face of adversity.

“I’m not disappointed with the results we had this year to a certain degree because the man power we had wasn’t up to it,” he said.

“We definitely had some positives during the year but we definitely had some negatives.

“After we played everyone once we wanted to improve on our score and I think we did that, except against Mernda the second time.

Clayton Robson in action for Reservoir. Picture: George Salpigtidis

“We had patches in games and we’d have 10-15 goals kicked on us … that’s one thing we really tried to work on.

“When the boys played to the gameplan and to our strengths we did make it hard for teams.

“I’ve got a lot of respect for the players, they turned up week in, week out. It wasn’t for a lack of trying and putting in the hard yards.”

Ruckman Gregson was a clear standout this season, earning a mention in the best in every game he played and polling strongly in the Coaches’ MVP.

Smith, Robert Holland, Ben Mowlam, Nathan King and skipper Petar Pavlovic were also strong contributors throughout the season.

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Hamilton hopes he brought some positives to the club in his two years at the helm.

“I walk away and I think I was a positive influence on the club and walk away with my head held high,” he said.

“My plans going forward, I’ll put my hat in the ring for a few jobs and see how I go.

“When you look at my coaching record, I have made a positive influence on clubs that have struggled.”