By JARROD POTTER
HE HELD the footy aloft for the last time in Casey Cardinia and now Keysborough’s Ryan Goodes will lead his club in its transition to the Southern Football League.
Goodes will take over as the Burra’s senior coach from Chris Bryan as Keysborough exits Casey Cardinia after a 60-year affiliation with the league and its predecessors.
With Keysborough’s move into the SFL’s Division 2 competition confirmed, Goodes was thrilled to get the chance to guide the side into its first SFL season.
“It’s exciting – I’m rapt to get the job,” Goodes said. “I’ve spoken to a lot of the boys and the club as a whole is excited and we’ve signed on the majority of the team at the moment.”
Player retention has been the major crux of Keysborough’s early off-season plans with Goodes and a number of high calibre players including Tyson King, Daniel Morland, Michael Downie, Davor Rajic, Geoffrey Humphreys and Bryce Sutton signing on the line to stay at Rowley Allan Reserve.
It’s a return to the Southern ranks for Goodes after his time as a dual-premiership player at Clayton, and he’s keen to get early wins on the board and make the Burra a powerhouse in the new competition.
“Won two senior flags in Divvy 1 Southern at Clayton and I know what the league is about,” Goodes said. “I’ve been to a few Divvy 2 games this year – it’s very different footy and we’ll adjust our game plan to suit.
“We need to be successful, we’ve been down the bottom of the ladder for too long.
“From a player’s point of view we need to play finals and work towards a premiership.”
Keysborough president Manny Scata said Goodes’ on-field leadership will transfer excellently into the coaching ranks.
“We’re extremely happy that Ryan accepted the offer to coach,” Scata said.
“He’s been loyal and his heart is with the club and he’s certainly embraced the challenge as are all the players to move to Southern.
“I have the utmost confidence that he’ll do a good job – the players are excited that their spiritual leader on the field is now leading them in a coaching role.”
Keysborough FNC will hold its AGM on Tuesday 14 October at the club social rooms from 7pm. All members and interested parties are encouraged to attend.
