VAFA: Decade-long Eastern coach Marty Pask will steer Hampton Rovers

After being unveiled as Hampton Rovers’ new coach, Marty Pask has aspirations on taking the club to the top of the VAFA. Here’s a look at his plans for the club.

Marty Pask Hampton Rovers

Having spent so much time in the Eastern league’s top flight, new Hampton Rovers coach Marty Pask plans to take his new VAFA side to a similar echelon.

Unveiled as the Rovers next coach at the weekend, Pask, 38, is excited by the new challenge of steering the VAFA Premier C division club.

From initial observations, he sees an abundance of talent, an appetite for setting standards, but ultimately, a group capable of propelling into higher-level footy.

Marty Pask (middle) has been unveiled as the Rovers’ next coach. Picture: ROVERS MEDIA

“From my point of view, I want to get this club as high as I possibly can,” he said.

“I think if you’re not striving to get yourselves up into the top flight of VAFA footy, and you’re just there to compete and mull around the bottom tiers, there’s no point getting out of bed.

“I am a very aspirational, competitive person, I understand there’s steps you’ve got to put in place, so first and foremost we can’t put the cart before the horse.

“But I would hope that everyone involved at Hampton Rovers footy club is aspirational, we set no ceiling, we want to go as high as we can.

“Where that ends, who knows, I certainly want to be shooting for the stars with this group of players, build something that lasts and give these players a legacy to leave behind.

“We have a good group of young guys, if they’re hungry, committed and buy in, I don’t want anyone telling them they can’t shoot for as high as they possibly can.”

Pask while coaching Norwood.

After finishing fifth with seven wins in 2023, Pask thinks there’s a foundation to build from.

He won’t change the standards he asked of his player’s from his recent role at Norwood, as he feels there’s a longing for success within the Rovers.

“I think the biggest challenge when you take over as a new coach, you want to implement the way you want to play and bring a certain brand that you feel is going to stack up,” he said.

“You want to test the appetite of the standards you want to bring and how they go about it.

“That’s certainly going to be the first piece of the puzzle, and you want to build a strong culture around guys wanting to dig in, stick fat, grow and build on the same direction.

“I think all these are exciting challenges, I don’t see them as ones that are going to be too difficult based on the conversations I have had – there’s a real appetite to build a strong football program.

“There’s already a great culture and great bunch of people, so we’re only going to add layers to that.

“I think the piece is to build something where people want to hang their hat, stick around and invest in.”

Pask – a former Brisbane Lion and Western Bulldog – knows the VAFA well, having played in the competition after his playing days at AFL and VFL level.