WRFL: Deer Park coach Marc Bullen steps down after seven flags
Deer Park’s Marc Bullen has revealed his future in the top job after steering the powerhouse to seven consecutive premierships and opens up on his greatest coaching performance.
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The most successful union in Western Region Football League history has come to an end.
Deer Park coach Marc Bullen will not be calling the shots in 2021 after quitting the top job following a decorated stint at the helm.
After taking over at the Division 1 outfit in 2013 as a rookie coach, Bullen led the Lions to an incredible seven consecutive premierships – a suburban football record – and 120 wins from 140 matches.
He departs as one of the leading mentors in local football with an undeniable record of accomplishment.
“I informed the club (on Thursday night) that I am not going to take up the offer to coach next year at Deer Park,” Bullen told Local Footy.
“I called Pratty (president Matthew Pratt) and I had an offer on the table to do it, a really generous offer as well, but I just thought if I could go out after coaching my last game in a premiership against Altona … I’m very content with that.
“I just think it’s time for a new voice. It will be nine years next year … it’s time for change.
“It gives the club a great opportunity to go and search for a really good key candidate and there will be a lot of very good football people out there at the moment looking for a job.
“It’s a great job and it’s just time for someone else I think, so I’ve decided not to pursue it.”
The former Essendon player marked the Lions’ come-from-behind victory over Altona in last year’s decider as his greatest coaching achievement.
The club had to overcome the distraction of a salary cap investigation and a long injury list during the campaign.
It had also lost to the Vikings three times in 2019 before grand final day.
Deer Park was down by 25 points at the main break, forcing Bullen to go to work to change the direction of the contest.
The powerhouse looked gone at three-quarter-time when it faced a 19-point deficit to go with kicking against the breeze in the final term.
But, miraculously, the Lions lifted themselves off the canvas and booted the only three goals of the last stanza to claim a three-point win against all the odds.
“My last half coaching performance, what we went through that day, will never be compared with anything I’ve ever done,” Bullen said.
“Coming from 25 points down at half-time and losing half-a-dozen players across the day and kicking into a four-goal breeze, you can’t beat that.
“My last game was the best coaching performance of my career.
“I just remember driving home to Gisborne every night (in the lead up to the grand final) thinking, ‘How the hell am I going to do this (beat Altona)?’
“I activated my risk-management plan at half-time and we pulled it off, so I’m quite content with that.”
The Lions made a habit of destroying opposition teams on grand final day under Bullen.
But despite their dominance, they could have easily lost the final game of the season three times after also beating Spotswood by one-point in 2013 and Sunshine by three points in 2017.
“Yes, we’ve had some really good lists, but to win three grand finals by under three points is an enormous achievement,” Bullen said.
“I was a coach that worked our players very hard, but the friendships and bonds that were created … I’d like to think I leave a very good legacy at Deer Park footy club.
“We’ve got a fair few reunions coming up and they’ll come around pretty quickly.”
Bullen declared the vacancy represented “the best coaching job in Melbourne”.
Deer Park is undergoing a changing of the guard, with Kwame McHarg, Jase Perkins, Max Bruin (all Port Melbourne Colts), Troy Kelm (St Kilda City), Kevin Klix (East Keilor) and Shaun Harrison (Macedon) leaving last off-season, while Shannon Byrnes, Jackson Barling and Daniel Cooper retired.
But a talented senior squad remains at its disposal.
“It’s a fantastic club,” Bullen said.
“What we were able to achieve was insane and the players are a great bunch of people and a really good young group.
“It’s going to be challenging what happens in the football environment moving forward, whether people decide to work or play (after coronavirus).
“But they’ve got a great committee, great sponsorships across the board and I’ll certainly provide advice and assistance on the potential candidate, and I know they’ll make the right choice.”
Bullen said he would maintain a close connection with the Lions, having made some “lifelong friends” during his tenure.
“(Deer Park backer) Glenn Allison getting me to the football club, he’s a mentor of mine and he’s been enormous for my family. His generosity towards me will never be forgotten,” he said.
“(Ex-president) Mark McGoldrick … he was a very loyal supporter of mine.
“And our new president is very energetic and he wants to maintain what we’ve been able to do, so I’ll certainly make sure I’ll be providing advice and assistance.”
Bullen, who has four young children, said family and work commitments were factors in his decision to walk away.
He said he remained uncertain about his immediate coaching future.
“You never say never,” Bullen said.
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