South Yarra coach tells club to advertise his job
A Southern league football coach has asked his club to go to the market due to worries for his family’s health amid concerns coronavirus will impact the 2021 season, saying “there are bigger things in life than footy”.
Southern
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Unwilling to commit to 2021 because of COVID-19, South Yarra senior coach Brenton Lockhart has told the club to advertise his job.
Lockhart was appointed to lead the Lions after their 2019 grand final victory in Division 4 of the Southern league.
He replaced Scott Stegehuis, who stood down after the premiership because of the pressures of work and family.
But the coronavirus prevented the Yarras from taking their place in Division 3 this year and Lockhart is concerned about how it will impact next season.
He hasn’t stood down but he’s invited South Yarra to “go to market’’.
“It’s hard. I haven’t recommitted for a second season but I also haven’t said no,’’ Lockhart said.
“It’s a really interesting spot, and if I’m brutally honest the main reason is COVID-19, there’s no question about that. Two reasons. I don’t want to get it. The long-term health effects … we don’t know what they are yet but a couple of things I read in medical journals scared the bejesus out of me.
“And the second part is my son actually has not-great asthma and if anything happened to him because I played footy … and someone didn’t wash their hands or something happened like that from training going back too early or something breaching protocol … is something I don’t want on my conscience. There are bigger things in life than footy.’’
Lockhart said he was “quite pessimistic, unfortunately, about the outlook for COVID’’, based on his understanding of the Spanish flu.
He said the cricket season would be compromised and “I’m not even certain the next footy season isn’t going to be compromised’’.
“I think it’s 50-50 and I also think in terms of returning to training I can’t see any clubs returning pre-February, because I think that would be too early.
“That’s why I was open and honest with the club. I said if they needed to advertise because my time frame does not suit them, I’m more than comfortable for them to do that. If it clears up and they don’t have anyone and the time is right for both of us, absolutely I’ll jump back on board.
“But with the amount of uncertainty out there at the minute, I don’t want to commit, because I don’t want to be anywhere near any situation that’s going to contribute to getting COVID.’’
The Yarras did not go back to training even as restrictions eased and the Southern league worked towards a start to the season.
Lockhart, who coached Poowong for two years before joining South Yarra as a walk-in-off-the-street player ahead of 2019, said he wasn’t prepared to put the health of his players or their families at risk.
South Yarra committeeman Owie Pearse said the Lions understood Lockhart’s position and appreciated his honesty.
“He’s putting the club first, and we think that’s a very noble thing,’’ Pearse said.
“He could have said, ‘Yeah, I’ll coach’, knowing full well he wouldn’t if the situation doesn’t change. That could have left us well and truly up the creek.’’
Pearse said Lockhart was an outstanding person and hoped he would remain involved.
The Lions are also looking for a coach for their women’s team to replace Blake “Onions’’ Tolley, who is seeking an opportunity at a higher level.
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