NFL 2018: Bundoora names Andrew Sturgess new coach
WHAT a week for Andrew Sturgess — a new dad and Bundoora’s new Northern Football League coach.
North
Don't miss out on the headlines from North . Followed categories will be added to My News.
TWO days after welcoming his first child, Andrew Sturgess capped an unforgettable week by being unveiled as Bundoora’s new coach.
The 29-year-old’s wife Bianca gave birth to their son Leo on Thursday and Sturgess was confirmed as Ricky Dyson’s replacement on Saturday.
DYSON VACATES BUNDOORA ROLE FOR ESSENDON VFL GIG
WILL BULLS STAR MOORCROFT PLAY ON IN 2019?
DICKSON, LENTINI SHARE COBURG’S VFL BEST AND FAIREST
Sturgess played 10 games for the Bulls in the Northern Football League this year, juggling his commitments as an assistant coach at VFL club Coburg.
“I am super pleased to have ended up at Bundoora and the timing worked out well in a way,” he said.
“If I had’ve stayed up at Seymour another year I probably don’t get this coaching opportunity at Bundoora. Things have worked out pretty well.”
An experienced on-baller, Sturgess has featured for Coburg, Seymour and Bundoora in recent years, and will be a playing coach.
“I don’t think I want to play every game. It doesn’t give me a good look at what it looks like from a coaching-only perspective,” he said.
“If I am out there, I might see things from within the game. But if I am not looking at it, if I am on the dance floor, I might not be seeing things that I otherwise might be if I was in the coaching box.”
While Peter Hood has retired and Kain Proctor will return to Fitzroy Stars, Bundoora has otherwise predicted little movement in its playing stocks.
FORMER COBURG SKIPPER JOINS PORT MELBOURNE
LIAM HUNT SET TO RETURN TO VFL RANKS IN 2019
SAAD’S 10-GOAL HAUL SENDS BUNDOORA PACKING FROM FINALS
Sturgess said there was little need for drastic change at the perennial contender, which finished fourth in Division 1 this year after winning the 2017 premiership.
“Bundoora has got a great history and there’s an expectation of success at the club,” he said. “They have had it for so long. That’s the first thing I noticed going there this year, the drive in the group coming off a flag to go again.
“A few things didn’t go our way this year … but there’s not a lot of things I need to come in and overhaul or change.
“They’ve got a really good foundation at the moment in terms of their values, what they stand for as a club and also amongst the playing list, the talent is there.”
Sturgess said he was confident of a “seamless transition” as he prepares for his first senior coaching role.
“You look at it and this is my take on the northern footy league, the competition, particularly over the last five years, has been so even,” he said.
“You have seen the rise of Macleod and Greensborough, Northcote Park has always been up there.
“It played out this year, from first to ninth and sometimes even 10th, anyone was in it.
“List-wise, you’re going to have fairly even talent across the board.
“It’s what you’re doing away from the two hours you’re playing out there that is the difference in the end.”
MORE NORTHERN FL NEWS
GARRY RAMSAY THE MAN FOR MONTMORENCY
Recruit tracker: ex-AFL talents join Northern league
OFF-SEASON CENTRAL: It’s a new year and the new local footy season is just around the corner. Check out the latest recruits at every Northern league club here.
Every in and out across the entire VAFA ahead of 2025
Keep up to date with every in and out across all six divisions of the Victorian Amateur Football Association. See every move here.