Watsonia parts ways with coach George Lattouf with two games remaining in season

With its NFNL Division 2 survival on the line, Watsonia has made the decision to part ways with coach George Lattouf with two games remaining.

Watsonia coach George Lattouf. Picture: Josh Chadwick

After almost six years at the helm, George Lattouf’s tenure at Watsonia is over.

With two games remaining in the NFNL Division 2 season, the Saints made the decision to part ways with their long-term leader on Sunday.

The club’s relegation hopes hang by a thread, falling to last place after Saturday’s 11-point loss to Thomastown.

It must win at least one of its remaining games against fifth-placed Lower Plenty or relegation rival Laurimar with the Power to face St Mary’s this weekend.

Watsonia president Rod Haber said a difficult decision had to be made to turn the club around.

Watsonia coach George Lattouf. Picture: Josh Chadwick

“It’s not an easy decision to make at any time, whether it’s at season end or before,” Haber said.

“George has been such a great servant of the club, he’s becoming personal friends with us all and we love his passion and admire his loyalty.

“But the situation we find ourselves in is not acceptable, if I thought if I fire myself and that would make an impact I would do that, the only thing you’ve got left is your coach.

“I had a close look at it on Saturday and with the committee we came to the decision we needed to spin the dice, let the players hear a different voice.

“It’s nothing against George, it’s just about the circumstance we find ourselves in.”

Watsonia played Division 2 finals for the first time since 2008 last year but lost several key players to rival clubs.

The Saints lost their top five goalkickers from last year, including league goalkicker James Lucente to Thomastown, while Jacob Pickett ruptured his ACL in the pre-season.

Austin Sinclair injured his knee in Round 14 and big-name recruit Rayden Garrard has been restricted to 10 games due to injury.

Watsonia players walk off the field the Round 4 loss to Panton Hill. Picture: Josh Chadwick

Positively, summer addition Ethan Lowe tops the league goalkicking charts, while young gun Daniel Annetta has taken his game to a new level and sits third in Coaches’ MVP voting.

Haber was confident the club had a strong future but needed to remain in Division 2 to fully realise its potential.

“If we do go to Division 3 we’ll fight like crazy to get out again,” he said.

“Division 2 gives us a much better platform to develop our junior affiliations and the young players we’ve got here now can still play at a high level and develop their game faster.

“I firmly believe we have the nucleus of a really good playing group, we just need a better run with injuries and to pick up a few players and we’ll be back to where we were last year, knocking on the finals door.

“The boys we’ve got this year are a loyal bunch, they want to stay together and enjoy the club but they’ll no doubt get good offers.”

Reserve grade coach Gary Cutler will take the reins for the final two games.

The experienced leader has had senior stints at Lalor, Heidelberg West, Coburg Districts and Yea.

“Gary is a safe pair of hands, he’s been there done that,” Haber said.

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“Hopefully we can save the furniture and put the fire out and then next year who knows.

“The candidates we’ve got are good.

“I think we can pick someone soon and integrate them with the playing group and if it is in Division 2 they can start to work on where we’re at.

“We’ve had three or four conversations so far, they’ve been really positive, and we’ve got a few more to go.”

Watsonia plays its last home game of the season on Saturday when it hosts Lower Plenty.