Southern league: Nick Jewell appointed senior coach of East Brighton

Nick Jewell reveals what drew him back to East Brighton and the type of recruits he will target ahead of the 2023 Southern league season.

Nick Jewell (left) with East Brighton football operations manager Brendan Stuart. Picture: Facebook

He started there as a seven-year-old.

Thirty seven years later, Nick Jewell is returning to East Brighton footy club as senior coach.

“I’m going back home to where it all started,” he said.

“Both cricket and footy, I started there as a seven year old at Brighton Union and East Brighton, the two sporting clubs at Hurlingham Park, and I played there until I was about 23.

“I’ve gone back spasmodically to see people, for functions and birthdays and funerals now we’re getting that old.

“But to have the chance to go back and see them full time I suppose was one I had to take.”

Nick Jewell as Rosebud coach.

Jewell coached Rosebud in the Mornington Peninsula league this season, signalling his intention mid season to have a break from footy in 2023.

But when the Vampires came knocking, he couldn’t resist.

“My plan was to do nothing, watch (son) Will in the under 19s at Rosebud next year and play a bit of golf,” he said.

“I had four or five other clubs ring that I never really followed up because I was having the year off, but when East Brighton called and said they were going to advertise their role at the end of the year and would I be interested, I started thinking about it.

“To go back to where it all started…it was a chance to round things off, go full circle.”

East Brighton, under Andrew Kahofer, thrillingly snatched a finals berth this season with a rousing win over ladder leaders Chelsea Heights in the last round of the Southern league Division 2 season.

The Vampires lost to Caulfield Bears in the elimination final.

Vampires ruckman Daniel Taberner.

Ben Douthie (left).

Jewell said the club was in good shape with 30 junior sides, and he would look to bolster the senior list over the off season.

“I think if you lose the elimination final and don’t look to bolster the list you’re sitting on your hands,” he said.

“There are a few players I believe are looking to head back who have played there previously.

“By all reports they’re pretty solid players.

“Without knowing the list intimately — I need to have a look and see what they need and speak to them a bit more about exactly what they need — but from what I saw they were probably missing a key forward and maybe another midfielder.

“If you could find a key forward to crash a few packs, and get one or two more mids and have the ability to rest them forward I think that will help.

“That will be on the agenda.”

Jewell said he was excited by the chance to work with friends and family at the Vampires.

“There are some life long friends there, people in my wedding party…the footy manager (Brendan Stuart) — his daughter was our flower girl — a couple of other guys I played right through juniors with and I’m still mates with are sponsors,” he said.

“One is coming back as runner, one’s coming back as an assistant coach and a chairman of selectors, so there’s five or six of us going back who grew up there.

“It’s just going to be fun. I don’t get to see these guys often enough living down here (on the Mornington Peninsula) so it’s the opportunity to work pretty closely with them for a few years hopefully.

“It’s about getting back to friends and family. And hopefully good footy is a by-product of that.”

Nick Jewell batting for Victoria.

Jewell vividly recalls his last season at East Brighton. He was 23, and a top-level cricket career with Victoria was calling.

“I had to stop playing (football) about June when pre season started for the Vics,” he said.

“I remember (then Victorian coach) John Scholes said to me, ‘you’re either going to play local footy or play cricket for Victoria. You choose’.

“So I thought I better hang the boots up.”

Jewell went on to play 62 first-class games for Victoria, scoring over 4000 runs, with six centuries, and playing in a Shield title.

His sporting career also includes an AFL game with Richmond in 1997.

East Brighton said in a statement it was thrilled to secure Jewell.

“Nick is a highly sought after and successful coach and we are truly ecstatic that he has returned to the red and white. Nick is excited at the prospect of developing our young list along with adding some top end recruits that he is well known for attracting.’’