Robert Fletcher takes Mernda coaching role after guiding club’s under-19s to preliminary final
Newly appointed Mernda coach Robert Fletcher is excited by the club’s future and he should know after guiding the Demons’ under-19s to a preliminary final finish this season.
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Mernda didn’t need to look far for its new coach.
Robert Fletcher will step up to the senior role in 2020 after steering the club’s under-19s to a preliminary final this season.
The Demons came within three points of a grand final, falling to eventual premier South Morang.
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Mernda’s seniors finished fifth for the third time in four NFL Division 3 seasons after being relegated in 2015.
Taking over from Paul Derrick, Fletcher’s goal will now be to end the Demons’ senior finals drought and a return to Division 2.
“I’m a bit rapt, a bit nervous … it’s too great an opportunity to pass up,” Fletcher said.
The Mernda Football Netball Club are delighted to announce that Robert Fletcher will be senior coach for the next two seasons.
— MerndaFNC (@MerndaFC) September 25, 2019
Assisting him will be Ronnie 'Rocket' Russell.
We can't wait for season 2020! pic.twitter.com/aRdoPaFV2r
“I was looking forward to a year off this year but got roped into coaching the under-19s.
“We’re desperate to get out of third division.
“The club has a full range of juniors and we’re ready to move up to the next division.”
Fletcher led Jacana to the EDFL Division 2 premiership in 2017 and was an assistant at Craigieburn during its Division 1 premiership-winning season in 2016.
After overseeing the under-19s development, Fletcher is excited by the club’s youth, with Nick Aleksovski claiming the under-19 Division 2 league best-and-fairest ahead of teammate Tanar Pierce.
In the seniors, Brad Dimech finished fourth in the NFL Division 3 best-and-fairest and was named in the Team of the Year.
However, Fletcher will be looking to add some extra experience to help guide Mernda’s youngsters.
“The young talent coming through are just developing into senior footballers now,” he said.
“We’ll add a fair few to our list as well, blokes I’ve coached before or coached against. We’ve already had some good interviews.
“Because we’ve got a heap of good kids, we’re going to bring in three playing assistants.
“We’ll have extra leadership on the ground with the talent to direct them, so they don’t have to wait until quarter-time, half-time speeches.
“We’ll probably add four or five experienced (players) but also five or six kids from other footy clubs as well.”
Mernda is the second Division 3 club to appoint a new coach for 2020 after Reservoir locked in Jason Hamilton.
Heidelberg West and Old Eltham Collegians are yet to announce their appointments.
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