VAFA 2019: Barry Mitchell linked with Northcote Park after departing Old Scotch
The former AFL star has left the VAFA Cardinals after taking them to the B section grand final.
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Old Scotch is on the hunt for a senior coach after parting ways with former AFL star Barry Mitchell following last Saturday’s VAFA Premier B grand final defeat to Caulfield Grammarians.
Mitchell took over as coach when Dale Bower suddenly resigned mid-season.
He steered the Cardinals to a 16-2 record, to the last match of the season and to promotion to Premier ranks.
“The politically correct thing to say is we both decided to pursue other avenues,’’ Mitchell said this morning.
He approached officials last month about their plans for 2020 and was told the club would be “going through a process’’.
Although Scotch took a 92-point thumping in the grand final, the reserves, Under 19s and women won premierships.
Mitchell said he was proud of the players for pushing through a difficult time when Bower left.
“They had a great year. They really brought in,’’ he said. “We were really staggering by the end but the culture we created and the season we had, I’m happy to actually walk away knowing we got close but weren’t quite good enough in the end. All in all I really enjoyed the season.’’
Mitchell spent a year with Northcote Park after finishing up his 221-game AFL career. He confirmed he was keen to coach the Northern league outfit.
In a statement to members, Old Scotch president Tim Shearer said the club and Mitchell had “agreed to pursue different directions for 2020’’.
“We sincerely thank Barry for his time and commitment to this important role and to the Old Scotch Football Club over the past four months,’’ Shearer said.
“Barry successfully took us to the 2019 Premier ‘B’ Section grand final and promotion to Premier ‘A’ Section for 2020. We wish Barry all the best for the future.
“The club will continue the process to appoint a new men’s senior coach. We will update the Old Scotch Football Club community more fully as we have further information to provide.’’
It’s believed the Cardinals will approach former Melbourne defender and Sandringham VFL premiership coach Graeme Yeats about the position.
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Yeats is coming off a five-year stint at Edithvale-Aspendale in the Mornington Peninsula league.
He was also a long-time coach of the Dandenong Stingrays in the TAC Cup.