Premiership Cats players passes on his knowledge to next generation

When he’s not helping Cats players with their ruck craft, former player Brad Ottens is teaching youngsters the rules and skills of football, including his son Johnny.

Former Cats premiership player, and current ruck coach Brad Ottens is also coaching his son Johnny's under-9 Ocean Grove team. Picture: Alison Wynd

Three-time premiership player Brad Ottens is showing the next generation of young footballers the ropes.

In addition to his role as the Cats’ ruck coach Ottens, who played for Richmond from 1998 to 2004 and for Geelong from 2005 to 2011, coaches the Ocean Grove under-9 football team, which his son Johnny plays in.

It’s his second year of coaching the team and he said he was having lots of fun coaching the junior team.

“Seeing the smiles on the kids’ faces is probably what I have enjoyed the most,” he said.

“You forget the times when football was purely about the enjoyment but with the kids its all about the fun.”

Brad Ottens said his favourite part of coaching his son Johnny's under-9 Ocean Grove footab team Picture: Alison Wynd

Ottens said there was something special about the under-9 players’ passion for the game.

“They can’t wait to put the footy boots on and run around at 8am on a Saturday,” he said.

“They just love it.

“I’ve also been able to watch them improve from when they struggle to kick and handpass in the beginning to playing well by the end of the season.”

Ocean Grove is one of more than 140 under-9 football and under-11 netball teams featured in the 2024 rendition of My First Club.

Readers will be able to access team photos of greater Geelong region teams exclusively online from June 19 before the Addy’s 28-page liftout hits newsstands on June 26.

Originally published as Premiership Cats players passes on his knowledge to next generation