WRFL: Braybrook coach Vinnie Turcinovich re-signs for two seasons.
The club that was once home to the likes of Doug Hawkins and Ted Whitten has endured a difficult period in the lower ranks of the WRFL. But with a premiership coach extending his tenure and key players re-committing, optimism is growing at Braybrook.
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Braybrook coach Vinnie Turcinovich was already locked in for 2021 after a line was ruled through his first season at the helm amid the coronavirus pandemic.
But the former VFA/VFL player has committed to extend his tenure for another year in a significant shot in the arm for the Western Region Football League Division 3 outfit.
Turcinovich said he was rapt to be part of a club filled with “genuine people” but he also wants to make the Brookers great again.
Braybrook endured some lean seasons after claiming the 2014 Division 3 flag before qualifying for finals in 2018 and finishing sixth last year.
The WRFL’s oldest club has been home to VFL/AFL champions Ted Whitten, Doug Hawkins, George Bisset and Brian Wilson, while the competition’s highest individual honour is named after the great Barry Priest.
Turcinovich joked he would be the “most famous person around” if he managed to give the former Division 1 powerhouse the facelift countless others have failed achieve.
“I love the history of clubs and you can’t go any further than Braybrook when you talk about history,” Turcinovich said.
“I’ve had a chat to Doug Hawkins, I’ve spoken to Matthew Lloyd’s dad John Lloyd. I want to get all those people back to the club and make it strong like it used to be.
“I remember 30 years ago as a 20-year-old, I was scared to walk in that ground (Pennell Reserve) because it was such a close group and close team and they’d do anything for each other.
“That’s what we’re trying to build again.”
Brookers president Rob Hutchison praised the reappointed coach for his work ethic and attention to detail.
“He’s been instrumental since joining the club,” Hutchison said.
“It was a very easy decision for the committee to not only lock him in for next year like he already was but to also add that extra year to help us win a premiership and keep the club sustainable going forward.”
Turcinovich steered Yarraville-Seddon to the Division 2 premiership in 2019 after it had lost the previous three deciders before sensationally moving on.
He lost just four games in two years before the club decided to advertise his role and requested he reapply.
He then opted to look elsewhere.
“People don’t realise that when I took over at Yarraville, we had probably 18 players walk,” Turcinovich said.
“I identified 12 of the under-19 boys from the previous year and was going to persevere with them.
“I identified three or four from the reserves, so I had about 16 new players who had probably only played 10 games in the seniors combined.”
Having proven his ability to develop a senior group at the Eagles, he said the chance to build a famous club and take on a challenging long-term project appealed.
Braybrook was set to be among the contenders this year with Division 2 league best-and-fairest winner Kieran Murphy, Rhys Bucktin and Jack and Brody Vorano among the recruits. That quartet has re-signed for next season.
“It’s a blessing in disguise what happened this year,” Turcinovich said.
“For a first-year coach … by the second (wave) of coronavirus, you understand where the club is, what the club wants, where the players are as a group. Individually, you know their character, if they’re lazy or if they’re fair dinkum. You know most of the players now even though we only played one practice game.
“I’ve got a heads up on what I’m dealing with. The lower (in the divisions) you go, I guess the more educating you need to do.
“You’ve got have a structure that everyone’s got to know but they lack a lot of fundamentals and basics of the game, so that’s my coaching anyway. I always go back to the fundamentals and the basics.”
Turcinovich said had the Brookers had room in their player points cap to attract more signings in coming months.
But he said the club would take a targeted approach and not “recruit anyone”.
“If we had to play next year with the group we’ve got, we’d probably be around 30 or 32 points,” Turcinovich said.
“I’ve got a good network of clubs and players that I’ve been around.
“I want good people at the club. It definitely makes it easier for me if I’ve got more experienced people around.”
Hutchison said Braybrook’s rich history “helps us market our brand and club”.
“In saying that, we need to create our own history. There’s a big gap between these players and the current players now, so as a club we are more focused on creating success from here on in,” he said.
“I believe we’re not far off. The goal next year is definitely to play finals and have an impact.”
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