Former Anakie co-coach Daniel Bunworth opens up on exit and difficult three-year tenure

Anakie confirmed that Daniel Bunworth and his fellow co-coach were stepping down after a dismal three years for the club. Bunworth reveals how it went down.

Daniel Bunworth opens up on his departure.

Former Anakie co-coach Daniel Bunworth says he made the call to step down at the end of the season in “early to mid” 2023 after informing the club of his plans to retire from playing and coaching.

Anakie confirmed last Friday that Bunworth and his co-coach Low Ben – who both joined the club in 2020 when the club was on its knees after a player exodus – were stepping down from their positions, with Jayke Mawson to take the reins as coach.

Bunworth finished with a dismal record of 1-47 across his tenure, with their breakthrough win over North Geelong this year being the highlight of his three-year stint, where the Roos finished each season on the bottom.

But Bunworth’s dedication and efforts to revive the club were worth just as much as wins, helping rescue the Roos from the brink as he and president Heath Menhennet called whoever they could to recruit two full sides for the 2021 season.

The former player co-coach conceded there was a feeling of “insecurity” from the playing group when they were first informed of the coaching plan in early July, but their uncertainty soon eased.

He hasn’t ruled out a return to playing or coaching into the future and is excited to be a part of the club, including its looming 100th year celebrations in 2025.

Daniel Bunworth when he began at the club in late 2020. Picture: Peter Ristevski

“I probably spoke to the club early to mid this year. We had a bit of a discussion about a bit of a plan rolling forward once I said it was looking like being my final playing year as well and I said I always have sort of planned that when I retire I have a year off everything,” Bunworth said.

“I’ve been involved with the football club for 30-31 years now and when I stop playing I want to see how the other half live and see if I miss it, and potentially get back into it in the near future.

“We just thought (early July) was probably a bit of a good time of letting them know what was happening around our club instead of whispers generating and a lot of players maybe coming to their own conclusions.

“I could feel that sense of insecurity early days but when things fell into place I think there was a good vibe within the group.

“I was the first person actually signed for the 2021 season so had a fairly big task to try and get two teams onto the park and obviously got that going and slowly built the club up again.

“It would have been great to get a few more wins on the board but where the club is at the moment, hopefully (we) hold onto the majority of their playing list and we have got a pretty good base to go into 2024 and beyond.”

Bunworth in action for Anakie this year.

Bunworth believes Mawson is the right person to steer the club forward, with his contacts around Geelong having the potential to drive recruits for the struggling club.

Mawson has coached at under 16 and 18 level for South Barwon and has also tasted success as a player for the Swans.

“I think he’ll have a lot of knowledge around Geelong football in general because he has been a part of South Barwon who have obviously been successful over a number of years and so he’ll continue that professionalism that I tried to bring to Anakie,” Bunworth said.

“He is a fella who does know a number of people within the Geelong region so fingers crossed he is able to bring a few people over.”

Originally published as Former Anakie co-coach Daniel Bunworth opens up on exit and difficult three-year tenure