WRFL: Anthony Eames re-signs as Spotswood coach for 2021
Spotswood has wasted no time deciding who will lead it in 2021 after the Western Region Football League season was cancelled.
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Spotswood has locked in Anthony Eames for another season as it looks to return to the big stage.
The JJ Liston Trophy winner took charge of the Western Region Football League Division 1 outfit in 2017 and the Woodsmen were desperate to take the field this year before the senior campaign was called off.
Eames said he had “no hesitation” in re-signing at the club he has steered to finals in each season of his tenure.
“For both of us, it’s a great fit,” Eames said.
“Spotty’s the club I played my juniors at, it’s the club I played my first senior footy at and I’m still mates with a lot of people from that era of playing junior footy.
“It’s an environment I’m comfortable in and the club, the board and myself, there’s synergy in the way we go about it, with our women’s footy, our netball. Everyone’s on the same page.
“It’s hard to get players to commit to playing again next year if I’m not committed.”
Eames said he would look to give his players a break in coming months after they endured “the longest pre-season they’ve ever had” amid the coronavirus crisis.
Some senior players will continue to train once a week alongside the club’s under-18 players, who could take part in an ‘opt-in’ modified season.
Eames said his players would also continue to work with captain David Iaccarino, who is a personal trainer.
“They’ve got running programs that they will do,” Eames said.
“Everyone was keen to play this year. We certainly weren’t a club that wanted to pull the pin on anything.
“We know we’ve got the support, particularly behind the scenes in volunteers, to get through this. It was disappointing, but we’ll be raring to go for next year.”
The Woodsmen have been a perennial contender in the WRFL’s top flight, contesting eight consecutive grand finals from 2007-14.
They have not qualified for a decider since, with their last flag coming in 2011.
“It was categoric within our playing group, if this year was going to go ahead, there needed to be a premiership at the end of it,” Eames said.
“Whether we worked our way to playing or not wasn’t the point, the players wanted that challenge there.
“Our boys will play for nothing but they wanted the reward at the end – and a premiership’s the best reward you can have.”
Former Western Bulldogs defender Steve Kretiuk will also continue as Hoppers Crossing coach in 2021.
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