Outer East league: Justin Stanton appointed next coach of Pakenham

New Pakenham coach Justin Stanton explains why he believes the Lions’ job is “a really exciting challenge’’ as a new era for the one-time powerhouse club looms.

Justin Stanton, pictured coaching The Basin, says he’s excited to coach Pakenham. Picture: Davis Harrigan

Three weeks after coaching Nar Nar Goon to a premiership, Justin Stanton has been announced as the next Pakenham coach.

The 53-year-old took Nar Nar Goon to a preliminary final last year (losing by a point) and then to a flag in his only two seasons at the West Gippsland league club.

He previously coached South East league club Beaconsfield and The Basin in the Eastern league.

Pakenham had been on the lookout for a new senior coach after they parted ways with Paul Carbis.

Stanton said he was excited by the challenge of steering Pakenham.

“It’s been a really good couple of years but like everything you seek the next challenge,” Stanton said on Monday.

“I’m very much aware of the challenges they (Pakenham) have had and having grown up in the area I’ve also got a long memory of how successful and how big of a powerhouse this club has been in the past as well.”

Justin Stanton is Pakenham's new coach. Picture: Facebook

Stanton takes charge of Pakenham at a critical stage in its history.

The Lions were relegated from Premier Division of the Outer East league last season and face the prospect of competing against far-away clubs such as Yarra Glen, Yea and Warburton Millgrove in Division 1 next season.

But Stanton, who has been appointed for two years, says he’s prepared for “some hard work” — and, possibly, a new era for the Lions.

“The club’s been really open and transparent and said to me they envision that next year will be the last year in Outer East (league) and they will explore what Southern league will looks like in 2026 and they’ll also explore what the West Gippsland would look like in 2026, in particular if there is a proposed divisional restructure format in place,” Stanton said.

“They’re very much open to either. Both are exciting.”

Pakenham in action in 2024. Picture: Valeriu Campan

Stanton said he starts his Pakenham tenure full of optimism and ambition.

“In my experiences as a coach I’ve been able to build a list that played finals consistently,” he said.

“It’s going to take a bit of time but if we get the pieces that we can control right it’s a really exciting challenge.

“The priority is to meet the playing group, start building relationships with the current playing list, ensure that we’ve got the playing list locked away next year and beyond.

“And then it will be to work closely with the playing group and the footy department as to what we all collectively think are areas we think we need to be better at and the types of players we want to target and then we’ll be aggressive in our means to improve the list so we can have an impact next year and that will set us for the following years.”

Pakenham president Derrick Brown said Stanton was the right person to guide the Lions forward.

“We’re very happy about it,” Brown said

“He’s obviously demonstrated that he’s got the ability to get a side into finals action.

“And it’s not as if it’s his first rodeo. The thing is he has coached for a period of time. He’s local, he understands where we are at. It will be a healthy challenge for him and I think we’re probably heading in the right direction.

“He’s steady, he’s mature…he’s got a plan in place.”