South Barwon coach Dave Farrell a candidate for Ocean Grove vacant position

Speculation became fact on Tuesday morning, when Dave Farrell was announced as Ocean Grove’s new coach.

New Ocean Grove coach Dave Farrell is “mindful” of the steps the Grubbers need to take to return to the BFL finals but can’t wait to get to work with the club’s young list.

Ocean Grove announced Farrell’s appointment on Tuesday, after meeting with the former South Barwon mentor late last week.

Farrell has deep ties to the club, with his wife Belinda a netballer and his sons football players with the Grubbers.

Dave Farrell addresses the Swans in his final game in charge last week. Picture: Mark Wilson

He was at the top of a list of candidates pulled together by Ocean Grove, who did not need to advertise the position after Pete Davey resigned in July.

Davey oversaw a stunning rise in 2021, where the Grubbers shocked many by winning an elimination final before the season was called off.

But the club crashed this year, finishing second-last in the BFL after winning just one of its first nine games.

Farrell said he was excited to join the Grubbers, who boast a strong junior football program.

He coached GFL club South Barwon for five years, finishing this campaign in sixth.

“I’m fortunate to be stepping into a club that has waves of emerging junior talent coming through – from the Cobras program at under-14s level, through to the Grubbers’ under-16s and under-18s teams,’’ he said.

“I’m mindful about balancing expectations – we need to understand that success doesn’t happen overnight, but there are strong foundations in place here and I can’t wait to get stuck into the role.’’

When stepping down at South Barwon in late July, Farrell said the Swans needed a fresh voice as coach, and the club subsequently landed Mark Neeld.

But Farrell hadn’t lost his passion for coaching.

“I’m so grateful for the opportunities I’ve had at GFL level – my passion for the game has never waned, even through the challenges during the coronavirus pandemic,’’ he said.

Farrell a favourite for Grubbers gig

- August 15

Outgoing South Barwon coach Dave Farrell has emerged as a frontrunner to take Pete Davey’s job at BFL club Ocean Grove.

Grubbers football manager Cam McGregor confirmed the Swans coach, who will lead the GFL club for the final time this weekend against Colac, was a candidate for the job at Ocean Grove.

South Barwon coach Dave Farrell. Picture: Mike Dugdale

The club has not locked in its next coach but hopes to make an announcement within the next two weeks.

Farrell is focused on finishing his campaign at South Barwon on a high and declined to comment about what his future in football looks like.

Given the growing demands on coaches at local football level, McGregor said the Grubbers had spoken at length internally about appointing playing and non-playing co-coaches but were yet to finalise a structure next year.

Davey announced in July he was pulling the pin as Ocean Grove coach due to growing work and family commitments.

“Initially Pete (Davey) was considering sharing the duties and we would get someone else in alongside him,” McGregor said.

“When you can split the role it just shares the load more evenly and hopefully that means the coaches can stick around a bit longer.”

Ocean Grove coach Pete Davey. Picture: Alan Barber

Ocean Grove slumped to second-last on the BFL table this year and won just four games after a sharp rise in 2021 that saw the Grubbers win an elimination final.

Davey described that season as a “fairytale” run but his team won just one of its first nine games in 2022.

The Gubbers haven’t advertised the head coach position but McGregor said the club had been contacted by multiple keen coaches looking to lead the BFL club in 2023.

Farrell will be replaced at South Barwon by former Ocean Grove mentor and Melbourne AFL head coach Mark Neeld, who took in some of the action on the weekend as the Swans dominated Bell Park in a 79-point win.

When announcing his departure from McDonald Reserve in July, Farrell said he thought coaching the Swans was “the best available job in Geelong”.

Originally published as South Barwon coach Dave Farrell a candidate for Ocean Grove vacant position