VAFA: Ex-AFL umpire Michael Vozzo to lead Yarra Valley
An ex-AFL umpire of almost 300 games explains his move into the coaches’ box at a VAFA Division 2 club, and how he plans to prepare his side for a fruitful 2021 season.
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He’s officiated close to 300 official matches at the elite level — and now ex-AFL umpire Michael Vozzo is embarking on a senior coaching gig in grassroots footy.
The two-time AFL grand final umpire oversaw 281 matches including 24 finals during his 13-year stint in the big-time, and has been appointed coach of VAFA Division 2 outfit Yarra Valley.
After hanging up the whistle following the 2011 season, he briefly entered the senior coaching game at Emmaus St Leos before opportunity knocked at the Eastern Football League in the head of umpiring role, later taking on the AFL umpires’ assistant coaching role.
The former Box Hill cricketer was on board at EFL Division 3 club Mulgrave this season as an assistant coach but didn’t get much of a look-in due to the coronavirus forced season shutdown.
He’s stepped away from the full-time jobs in football and now works for Maroondah Council, allowing him to rekindle his long-time “passion” for senior coaching.
“I think I’ve got a pretty good grounding in regards to the elite level and community level,” Vozzo said.
“(I’ve) had many years of coaching local cricket as well and I’m still involved at Box Hill Cricket Club, I’ve always had a real passion for football coaching.
“I was assistant coach at Mulgrave but it was only this year so we didn’t get experience a hell of a lot, and I was appointed at St Leos when I retired from the AFL but I only did it for eight weeks because I got my job at Eastern footy league, so I had to quit that.”
The Bushrangers finished fifth last season and missed finals in VAFA Division 2 with an 8-8 record, and Vozzo believes preparation will be the key to getting a jump on rivals in 2021.
“We’re pretty comfortable that we’ve got a strong list and they’ve always been knocking on the door the last four years in a row – fifth twice and fourth twice,” he said.
“We know we’re not far away and we’re looking at having a successful season – everything well-planned and have everything in place.
“I know it sounds silly but maybe take advantage of this COVID time and be just a little bit better planned than others, we might get that bit of an advantage.”
While a start date for pre-season remains unclear, the incoming Bushrangers coach has wasted no time planning as he navigates his group through the uncertainty.
“We’ve got a conditioning program that we’re going to unveil to all the players next week and they’ll be given an opportunity to follow that as best they can and return when we return,” he said.
“It is a bit of an evolving thing really, so we don’t know when we’re going to be returning properly or what the return will look like, but we’ll just sort of play that by ear.
“The conditioning program will be really set in stone and that will be something the guys can look at following anyway.”
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