RDFNL: Justin Sherman joins Romsey on a one-year deal
Romsey has declared it can challenge for the premiership next season after the appointment of an ex-AFL player as coach.
Riddell
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Romsey is confident its new coach can lead the club back into premiership contention.
The Riddell District league club has appointed former AFL player Justin Sherman as its new coach for 2023, replacing Paul Kennedy.
Sherman, who made 138 AFL appearances, joins after coaching Craigieburn in the Essendon and District Football League.
Previously, he was coach of Laurimar in the Northern League.
“We sourced someone out for quite a while that will suit our playing group,” Romsey president Wayne Milburn said.
“We came across Justin, we interviewed him, he applied for the position and that was it.
“His professionalism obviously (got us interested), his attitude and his willingness to get on and try to improve our young kids (were some of the factors in our decision.”
Milburn said while the Redbacks have recruited, the main focus is on building with the last season’s playing group.
Romsey finished fourth last season before losing an elimination final to Macedon.
He is confident the club had what it takes to contend for the premiership, with the addition of Sherman.
“Do we have to go to another level? Yep, we definitely have to,” he said.
“But in saying that we come close to Diggers (Rest) this year and Riddell, who ended up playing off in a grand final.
“It was a point difference to Diggers and five or six points to Riddell during the year. We’re close, we’ve just got to take the level.
“We’ve sat down with Justin a few times now and he told us how he wants to help the club and what he intends to do with his structures and his systems he’s got in place for training and game day.
“We’re pretty excited for it.”
Milburn said the contract could extend Sherman’s contract if the club is in a good position during the middle of next season.
“If everything is fine we’ll reassess it early and go from there,” he said.
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