Southern league: Steve O’Brien back as Cranbourne coach

Cranbourne has done a backflip, reappointing premiership coach Steve O’Brien weeks after parting ways with him. Here’s why.

Cranbourne captain Brandon Osborne and coach Steve O’Brien lift the premiership cup. Picture: Valeriu Campan

Talk about a roller coaster ride.

Steve O’Brien was on the highest of highs after coaching Cranbourne to premiership glory in Southern league Division 1 in September.

Weeks later, he was feeling lost and confused after the Eagles parted ways with him.

The stumbling block, according to the club, was that O’Brien couldn’t commit to a 3-5 year plan encompassing its junior development pathway.

But it appears the club has had a rethink.

Cranbourne on Thursday announced that O’Brien was back at the helm, re-signing for the next two years.

O’Brien expressed his delight.

“Fantastic news,” he declared.

“This is what I wanted to do, to see this job through and I get the opportunity now.

“I’m just rapt to be back.

“It’s about moving forward now.

“The band’s back together and we march on.”

Cranbourne players celebrate their win. Picture: Valeriu Campan

Cranbourne president Terry Gleeson said the Eagles were keen to put the post season upheaval behind them and move on.

He said O’Brien’s role would “change a little bit during the season and over the next couple of years”.

“His focus is going to be in transitioning because we’ve got a lot of good assistant coaches and just working on their development,” he said.

“Everybody’s heart is in the right place at the club, it’s like anything you get differences of opinion. It’s just a matter of resolving them for the betterment of the club.”

Cranbourne starts pre season training on November 28.

“We are a little bit behind the eight ball, but we’ll be right,” O’Brien said.

“But we’ve got plenty of blokes coming back from injury who didn’t get the opportunity last year, so we look forward to hopefully giving them an opportunity.”