Victorian Amateur Football Association: Brett Gatehouse returns to coach St Mary’s Salesian

Prodigal son Brett Gatehouse has returned to take the senior coaching reins at VAFA Division 1 club St Marys Salesian as the Saints set about casting off the disappointment of relegation.

Prodigal son Brett Gatehouse has returned to take the senior coaching reins at VAFA Division 1 club St Marys Salesian as the Saints set about casting off the disappointment of relegation.

Gatehouse spent a decade at the club, starting at St Marys before the amalgamation with Salesian Old Boys, and is the club’s longest serving captain (2012-16).​

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Relegated last season, St Marys Salesian is looking to climb again Picture: Susan Windmiller

He also spent time with VAFA Premier club Old Trinity and Far North Queensland’s Cairns Saints before a stint at Thorpdale in the Mid Gippsland Football League. ​

Time in the country has him refreshed and ready for the challenge ahead.​

“To be honest, I’d fallen out of love with footy a bit,” he said.​

“The last two years at Thorpdale, I really enjoyed it. The coaches there put a lot of faith in me, both as a midfield coach and then a playing assistant coach.”​

The Saints struggled last season, winning just one game on the way to the wooden spoon and demotion from Premier C to Division 1.​

While many would be daunted at the prospect of taking over a relegated side, Gatehouse said there was plenty to look forward to ahead of the coming season.​

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“The on-field (result) wasn’t that great for them last year, but from what I’ve seen at training the players have improved a lot by playing in C Grade,” he said.​

“Erwin (outgoing coach Erwin Leydon) did get a lot of players to improve and a lot of those players don’t even realise it.”​

Gatehouse said the increase in confidence that comes with the knowledge the side will be more competitive in a lower grade would hold the playing group in good stead.​

“There’ll be challenges, but I’m not taking over a club that’s in a shambles,” he said. “Everyone is still upbeat, the morale is good and, to be honest, I’m lucky to be coming back at the time that I am.”

New senior coach Brett Gatehouse

The Saints have also been busy on the recruiting front, signing former VAFA under-19 Big V rep Josh Tyquin from De La Salle, Max Homes (ex-St Kevin’s), Hamish Heath (Collegians) and Marcus Brown (Thorpdale).

Back-to-back premiership coach Damian Sutherland will continue as the club’s women’s coach as the Saints step up to the top-flight Premier grade this season.

Off-field, veteran sports journalist Greg Baum has taken the helm as club president replacing longtime boss David Malcolm. Malcolm, president since 2012, departs after an outstanding tenure during which the club won an under-19s flag, two reserves flags, two women’s flags and the senior men climbed from Division 2 to Premier C.

The St Mary’s Salesian women are into the Premier ranks after two premierships on the trot