BAIRNSDALE ADVERTISER: It’s great to catch up with the newly-appointed Bairnsdale Football Netball Club senior coach, Kane Ashwood. Congratulations – exciting times ahead. How’s it feel to be appointed to the biggest football gig in East Gippsland?
KANE ASHWOOD: It feels good, I will probably do things a little different and will be great to get the final say.
BA: How did the interchange bench work during games with coach Logan Austin in a playing-coaching role last season?
KA: As the senior assistant coach I had free rein throughout the matches, we had players locked into positions, but if anything needed to be changed, I made the call.
BA: Have you always had aspirations to coach at the highest level locally?
KA: Absolutely. I love coaching and was delighted to come on board to assist Logan. With a couple of young kids at home that have that dream of playing AFL, it’s great to be involved in a Gippsland League program that gives kids the opportunity to play at the highest level possible locally. It’s a super competitive league, on and off the field. There’s ex AFL/VFL players coming in all the time, adding to the professionalism.
BA: What do you think makes a great coach?
KA: One-on-one communication with players, you need to know what makes all your players tick and how to get the best out of everyone. Most people aspire to be better, it’s our role to help them achieve their goals.
BA: Tell me about your playing career.
KA: It started in the under 12s at Wy Yung as an eight-year-old, played right through the system to senior football where I played in a couple of senior premierships. Moved to the Sunshine Coast and played in a premiership with Caloundra in 2010. My brother-in-law Brent Cowell got the coaching job at Bairnsdale, so I came back to Victoria to join him at the Redlegs. He stayed one year, I played five or six, I was keen to coach so took on the job at Lindenow. Had some successful years, a couple real successful, before moving back to Bairnsdale.
BA: Who was the best player you played with?
KA: It’s always tough and I will forget someone and cop it. But Luke Dyer, Stephen Henshaw and James Gibbs were all freaks.
BA: What about played against?
KA: Luke Moresi, Adrian Bromage and I will have to include Jobe Somerville, he gave me a bath in my final game.
BA: In the past two years as an assistant coach at Bairnsdale, who’s the best player you have seen in the Gippsland League?
KA: Shannon Lange, he gets it done on the ball and he’s a goalkicker. The Baldi brothers are great as well.
BA: Do you have a coaching philosophy?
KA: At Lindenow it was pretty basic, just kick it short. Everything was short and fast, predictable to each other, on the same page, everything was a 20 metre kick.
BA: Do you think the players dictate the game plan?
KA: Absolutely. When I went to Lindenow we had no big blokes, so that was perfect for us. Our skills needed to improve, which we worked on religiously during pre-season. Super fit and strong are integral parts of what we need to get to at Bairnsdale.
BA: Are you expecting huge changes to the game plan at this stage?
KA: Not at this stage. Logan’s theory was kick it long and die because we were small, but we will actually train to be a bit more predictable. We will look at bringing in some local talent and adding a couple of mature players into the mix.
BA: What’s on the wish list?
KA: A ruckman/forward to give Ethan East a chop out and another quality midfielder.
BA: Jack Leslie could fill the ruck/forward role, and he has a local connection being Phil East’s son in law?
KA: He would be handy, that would be an exciting combination, East and Leslie, but he will stay at Sale. We have a couple of young developing forwards with real upside, Oscar Clarke and Max East, who could become key components in 2025 with big off seasons.
BA: Will strength and fitness be included in a big pre-season?
KA: I met with our strength and conditioning guy, Matt Dooley, last week, who does an outstanding job, he’s going to outline some individual programs for our guys prior to the pre-season commencing. He works in well with our physio, Jeff, they keep our injured guys active and get them back playing much quicker than in my day. The rehabilitation work Matt does is incredible, professional and world class. Hopefully we will get the younger guys coming back, bigger and stronger. A couple of other guys may need to look at dropping a few kilograms.
BA: Have you taken a lot from the coaches you have played under in your career?
KA: For sure, played plenty of football under Doug Vickers and Shaun Mooney, while learning plenty from Logan Austin over the last two seasons. You pick bits and pieces up from different people.
BA: What about the Austin legacy?
KA: He’s been huge and great for me. He’s put the club in a really good position. Not many blokes could do what he’s done, traveling up and down the highway, coaching a football team, leaving no stone unturned. He’s done an incredible job. He made time for everyone, from players, to sponsors and supporters. An outstanding speaker, great player, so mature for his age, I’m not sure I will be able to talk like he did. He talked and walked it.
BA: Any announcements on the cards in regard assistant coaches?
KA: Daniel Perrin and Lachlan Byrne Jones have signed on to be assistant coaches. Lachie will head up the Melbourne program.
BA: Are all those Melbourne guys returning in 2025?
KA: The only one there is a doubt over is Xavier Richards, who has indicated that if he can get his body right to play football in 2025, it will be with Bairnsdale.
BA: I see Cameron McPhan has moved back to town, will he be at Bairnsdale?
KA: I have spoken with him and he’s keen to be involved. He was having a good season at Buln Buln before getting injured. He’s a good football person with plenty to offer on and off the field.
BA: Retention of this year’s list is big on your mind at present I suspect?
KA: Certainly, I’ve touched base with nearly every single player on our senior list and will get around the development list now the grand final is over. Everyone seems excited by the appointment. Obviously the season has just finished but to play at this level, weights and running needs to be done in the pre-season. Over the last couple years, they’ve grown more professional, as well as individuals, and most are only young and they’re hungry for success.
BA: You will have players that get targeted by the local clubs?
KA: Certainly, but it’s a two-way street, there are players we are also keen to get involved at Bairnsdale. Players will come and go, we will keep trying to create the culture where everyone buys in and they ultimately are the players you want playing for your club. You’ve got to be happy with where you play, some will leave but will always be welcomed back. The early indications on retention are excellent.
BA: You would be keen to add some local talent to the roster. There are a group of about 11 or 12 guys that are more than capable of making a difference if afforded opportunities. What are your thoughts?
KA: I agree that there are some good young footballers locally who could have bright futures at Gippsland League. We will be inviting many of them to our pre-season, hoping to get a buy-in. Realistically if you get three or four out of 10, it would be an outstanding result. Who is on your list?
BA: Norm Betts, Jobe and Nate Somerville (Wy Yung), Jack Saulle, Jackson Smith, Conor McAullife (Lucknow), Max Welsh (Orbost Snowy Rovers), Peter Harrison, Cooper Shaw (Lindenow), Caleb Crofts, Oscar Pike (Paynesville), Tom Hudson (Lakes Entrance) and Jack Bacon (Stratford).
KA: Interesting, some good players on that list. Normie Betts marks it as good as anyone and Conor McAuliffe, he’s raw but kicks it a mile. Some have been on our program and are keen to return, which is positive. All are more than capable if they are prepared to take up the challenge, work hard and have a crack. The door is open, the challenge is there and hopefully we will see some of those guys in November.
BA: You have some serious talent in your thirds and fourths?
KA: We do and its great that we have played so many in the seniors this year, which will hold us in great stead going forward. We lack a bit of height but our brand going forward can adjust to that and they will be much better and stronger after another pre-season under their belts. Mat Hamilton is super talented, Tyran Rees is still developing, Jesse Bills, Max Neate and Ryan Cullinan will all be better players next year after getting a taste this year. Jobe Froud is a serious player progressing through the ranks, he’s smooth and a great decision maker. Doug Ashby and Chiti Otuonye are very promising.
BA: You are a big Tyran Rees fan.
KA: He could be the best player in the competition, he’s got it all the tricks, a super talent who I need to get the best out of going forward. If we can keep him focused on the field for 120 minutes, he’s capable of anything. He needs to work on the next contest, don’t dwell on what didn’t go his way last time, stuff that Doug Vickers worked with me on back in the day. He kicks goal and is freakish, an exciting proposition.
BA: Jonah Walker and Wil Malady are stars, but may never get to play here again with higher honours beckoning.
KA: That’s great and what it’s all about. The whole idea of doing this is to push them onto bigger and better things. Lachie Cloak will go down to have a crack at the VFL this season, following his dream.
BA: Logan Dunkley is always a player that sparks interest, has star written all over him.
KA: He’s a very talented young sportsman, can do anything, cricket, golf, darts, pool and football. He’s a cruisy guy and is big into his cricket, but he has told me that we will sit down and chat more in March. I think we can get more out of him in 2025. He has plenty to offer.
BA: Nic Bulmer will return in 2025?
KA: Yes, he’s had shoulder surgery and will be keen to get back out there, has done a great job as our runner.
BA: Is it hard to plan and coach with so many players based in Melbourne?
KA: Not really, because the numbers on the training track are good. It can make it tough working on the stoppage stuff with a lot of Melbourne lads part of that structure, but it works itself out in time. You need to utilise the practice matches to your advantage.
BA: Will Mitchell had another great season.
KA: He’s a star, very quiet off the field, but a leader, everyone follows him to war. He speaks when he needs, he’s calculated and uses the ball well. He knows his strengths and weaknesses, it’s good to see him hitting the scoreboard more. He sets us up in the midfield, gets a tag every week, but still gets plenty of ball.
BA: Randall Stewart had a good season?
KA: He was great, showed huge composure with the ball, more time and space, used the ball really well.
BA: The back six were outstanding throughout the season?
KA: They did hold up. Hughie Longbottom was huge coming in, Ricky Tatnell had a great season, Josh Lando was a great fit, the Vickerys were good, young Charlie Mann is developing nicely.
BA: We touched on Malady and Walker earlier? What sort of players do you see them developing into?
KA: They are both still growing, we nearly played Wil before the under 16 championships, he had done plenty of training at senior level. But it was decided that we would let him get those commitments out of the way. He’s got plenty of tricks and had a great championships and went straight into the Power side. He will be a half forward going forward I’m thinking, but is fast and could develop into an onballer. Jonah has the swagger and plenty of character, my type of footballer. He’s a monster who also could develop into a midfielder in time, he rides the bumps and nothing phases him. Two exciting prospects set for big futures.
BA: What are the expectations for next year?
KA: I ask every player I talk to that question and they tell me they want to play finals. That’s the message across the board. Where as I want to win a premiership, that’s the whole idea of it.
BA: Finals were so close this year, so many close results.
KA: Yes, if the breaks had gone our way in those games, we may have finished as high as second. We have played heaps of kids and are on an upward spiral, we won eight games. We have become relevant, now we need to go to the next level, turn good halves in great games.
BA: Was the Sale win at home the best of the season?
KA: It was a great win in the wet, I liked the round three win at Morwell, we won by nearly five goals.
BA: Thanks for catching up Kane, Bairnsdale looks to be in great hands, I look forward to catching up for a regular chat in 2025.
KA: Thank you, it will come around quickly.
