VAFA: Oakleigh appoints Ash Lever as senior coach for 2020
One door closes, another opens. That’s the scenario for Ash Lever, who has gone from coaching Ormond to be Oakleigh’s new coach for 2020.
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Oakleigh has a new senior coach — former Ormond premiership coach Ash Lever.
It’s somewhat of a homecoming for Lever, who coached the Krushers’ Under 18 side to a premiership in 2012 while also serving as the club’s senior assistant coach.
“The opportunity came up to go back, so I took it,’’ he said.
Lever enjoyed success at Ormond, taking the Monders to a Division 1 flag in 2018 and promotion to Premier C.
He got Ormond into a preliminary final this year before finishing up.
“One door closes and another one opens as they say,’’ he said.
Oakleigh missed finals in Division 1 this year and Lever believes the Krushers can improve enough to contend strongly for the title next season.
“They’ve got a lot of talent there, there’s no doubt about that,’’ Lever said.
“The ones will have a very healthy list and there are a lot of players who are 20 to 24 with a lot of good footy ahead of them.
“With the players there I think there’s a strong chance they can go all the way and be really powerful in September.
“That will be the challenge, obviously with a different coach, different mindset, game style, different approach to everything…
“The club seems extremely excited and I know 80 percent of the people there.’’
Two Ormond players will accompany Lever to Oakleigh; his son, Jake, and Luke Gogis, both ex-Krushers players.