Outer East: Wayne Van Der Ross appointed Yarra Glen coach
A former EFL Division 2 coach will lead Yarra Glen in 2021, revealing what attracted him to the Outer East job and his plans for the club for next season.
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Yarra Glen has locked in its new mentor with an ex-EFL Division 2 coach taking the reins for 2021.
Former Knox mentor Wayne Van Der Ross has landed the head gig at the AFL Outer East Division 2 outfit after parting ways with the Falcons in July.
He was set to lead Knox in 2020 before the coronavirus crisis forced the season to be abandoned, and declined to reapply for the position after being informed it was to be advertised ahead of 2021.
Van Der Ross served as a senior assistant and reserves coach at Glen Waverley Hawks between 2010 and 2013, and later served in the same roles at Lilydale across 2018-19.
He pointed to his playing career in “country football” which included a premiership with Silvan in 2004 as one of the key attractions to the Yarra Glen gig along with his coaching experience with Lilydale.
“The Knox job was unfortunate, but one door closes and another one opens and I’m just excited and looking forward to the challenge,” Van Der Ross said.
“What attracted me was country football – back in 2004 I played for Silvan and I enjoyed the whole country atmosphere, the town feel and how the town is behind the club.
“When I was coaching at Lilydale we had a young guy called Billy Gardner, he won the best and fairest at Lilydale in the reserves and ever since he went to Yarra Glen I’ve sort of just been following his progress for the last two or three years, took notes and watched them and watched how they went and followed their results.”
Yarra Glen finished sixth in 2019 with an 8-8 record following a preliminary final berth in 2018 and a grand final appearance in 2017, and Van Der Ross said he recognised the potential in the group.
“They’re always up there and had a down year in 2019,” he said.
“I thought it would be a great opportunity to go to a club like that, build some success and hang around and create something really good there.”
Hopeful of up to six pre-season sessions ahead of Christmas, Van Der Ross said he’s in the market for a ruckman and a forward, while adding more depth to the squad.
“Once I got the job I jumped on the front foot and I’m talking to players now, most of the list is signed and I’m already on the ball about getting new recruits and looking at players from higher divisions,” he said.
“I’ve got the ball rolling now because if you don’t, these players will go elsewhere and I just want to be proactive.”