Southern Football Netball League: Richard Houston has been appointed senior coach of Doveton Eagles
A two-time St Kilda City premiership mentor will steer the Doveton Eagles into their first season in Division 1.
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He’s back.
Richard Houston’s much-discussed coaching career in the Southern league will resume next year, at Doveton Eagles.
The two-time St Kilda City Division 1 premiership coach was last night appointed to lead the Eagles into their maiden season in the top flight.
After a string of retirements and the rumoured departure of a number of key players from their premiership team, the Eagles sounded out the league about staying in Division 2.
But Houston said the club was happy to go up to Division 1, consolidation its first priority.
He said the Eagles would probably lose a handful of players but would be out to replace them.
Houston began coaching in Southern in 2006, taking Division 3 battler Parkmore to a premiership after a recruiting spree that brought in former Melbourne player Anthony McDonald, ex-Dandenong captain Sean Millane and prolific goalkicker Danny Casset.
The following year he went to Division 1 club St Kilda City, where his four seasons produced the 2007 and ’10 premierships.
Later he coached St Paul’s, and returned to City for two seasons.
He helped out at the Saints this year after they sacked Ricky Bean after six rounds.
At the Southern league Division 1 finals this year Houston expressed his desire to coach again.
He applied for the Doveton Eagles job when it was advertised for a second time.
Premiership coach Clint Wilson will stick around as football manager, having made a call to arms to his players to stand by the club.
“The first challenge will be consolidation, to be competitive, and build from there,’’ Houston said.
“Keep building and perhaps even have a sniff at the finals in year two and hopefully be competitive in the finals in year three.
“We’re expecting some players to be moving on – a few have apparently gone to Kilsyth – but we’ll pick up a few, no doubt. We’ll see who’s available and within our budget.’’
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Houston said he preferred to coach in Division 1 “because I know much more about it than I do Division 2’’.
“What I do know is that it will be a tough gig, but I’m always up for a challenge,’’ he said. “You never shy away from them.’’
The Eagles have made three consecutive grand finals, winning the Division 3 premiership in 2017 and the Division 2 flag this year.
Houston said Doveton Eagle was a “fantastic community footy club with great facilities and support’’.
“The new president (Hamayun “Hammy’’ Kazizada) is warm and welcoming and the committee are very friendly … really excited to join the club and help make it competitive,’’ he said.
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