VAFA 2021: Mark Murray locked in as Hawthorn Amateur coach

Hawthorn Amateurs have welcomed back an all-time great as coach, putting behind them a shaky past month.

Locked in: Mark Murray will coach Hawthon Amateurs in the VAFA’s Division 3

Hawthorn Amateur says it’s “stoked” with its new senior coach, with a competition great returning to steer the VAFA Division 3 outfit.

Mark Murray has been unveiled as the Hawks’ new mentor, returning to Rathmines Rd where he spent a chuck of a decorated 15-year playing career among stints with De La Salle and Mazenod across 340 matches, taking in three flags and three best and fairests along the way.

But he’s no stranger to the coaching ranks, having held roles at some of the VAFA’s biggest clubs including Melbourne High, PEGS and Fitzroy across 10 years of experience, having also previously led the Hawks from 2009-11.

Murray replaces outgoing coach David Knight, after a shock parting of ways late last month sparked the club into swift action to find a new mentor less than weeks out from the start of the season.

Hawks president Sam Waldron said excitement surrounded Murray’s appointment, bringing with him a wealth of coaching experience from the league’s top-flight.

“We’re stoked,” he said.

“It’s super exciting, he’s obviously very well credentialed as a coach and as a player in his own right.

“We quite like that he’s a past player and coach of our club but having him also have that experience of the higher levels of the VAFA I think’s going to be really helpful and important for us.

“He’s a ripping bloke and everyone that I spoke to about him during the process was very complimentary.”

Waldron said “a couple of people from the club” had reached out to Murray to gauge interest in the role, and the conversation progressed with help from 1998 premiership player and close friend, Phil Avery alongside past president, Pat Clancey.

Waldron says Avery was a key to luring the great back to the club. Picture: Supplied

“He (Murray) felt like the club had given him so much and Ammos footy’s given him so much and he could see that we were in a bit of a pickle, so he was keen to come in and support the club,” Waldron said.

“People like that (Phil Avery and Pat Clancey) that know Mark well were definitely giving him a nudge in the right direction.”

But with the club without a coach to start the season, senior captain Justin Raiti stepped in to fill the head role, with help from the senior coaching group.

It culminated in a 101-point win over Albert Park in Round 2, lifting the club after a shaky past month off the field.

“They’ve (the coaching panel) just been enormous the past month in taking it on – he (Justin) has been exceptional in particular,” Waldron said.

“There’s just a real positive vibe at the club, we’ve got a number of new players from when we last played in 2019 – two thirds of the whole women’s and men’s program would be new.

“For that many new players to have a win, for them to sing the song and celebrate, it’s really set the tone for the year.”

Waldron said the club hoped to build stability under Murray, with the Hawks promoted to and relegated from Division 2 twice in the past five years, following grand final appearances in Division 3 in 2016 and ’18.

“We definitely have aspirations to move up the divisions (and) in the past we’ve had a bit of ‘yo-yo’ between Division 2 and Division 3 … I’m a bit sick of yo-yoing.

“(Murray) will hopefully help us with having a solid year and whether we do have success, if we’re lucky enough, we really want to stay in Division 2.”