One of Roxburgh Park’s biggest supporters of its women’s side will take on the coaching role for next year’s Essendon District Football League women’s season.
Kaine Hocking, who has held a number of different roles at the Magpies, will step in to coach the women’s side.
Hocking said he was excited by the opportunity.
“I’m very excited,” he said. “It has been a while since I’ve coached, I’m a bit more mature than my first time coaching.
“I’m a bit more grounded and thinking about where to start and what we need to do. The response from the women we have in our group has been positive.
“You’re always nervous how people will respond to change and a new coach.”
“The feedback has been good.”
Kevin Allan had coached the side the past two seasons after returning to the competition, taking it to finals both years.
The club decided to advertise the role at the end of this year and when Allan didn’t re-apply, Hocking decided to put his hand up.
Hocking is a premiership winning reserves coach at Coburg Districts and previously coached the Magpies reserves side.
“I have interest in the women’s program and I don’t want to lose it,” Hocking said.
Hocking said one thing he was looking forward to was coaching his niece who will be stepping into her second year of football.
He said conversations with players were happening about what they were looking at doing next season.
“We’re figuring it out, but we still think a high percentage will stay on,” he said.
“We’re speaking to nine or 10 players about coming across and how many come through is unknown.
“It’s been successful the first two years with Kevin, it has been good to make finals two years in a row.”
Hocking said the playing group was driving that success and wanted to continue that while having fun.
The Magpies have some recruits in the works, which Hocking said they would hopefully announce in the next few weeks.
The first of those recruits was announced on Thursday with Haylea Cooke crossing from Greenvale in premier division.
Cooke started her football with the Magpies and will add to the Magpies attacking options.
He said they want to push into division 1 in the coming years and and hopefully push getting more junior girls playing.
The club is looking to try and get a youth girls side up for next year as well, with some senior players keen to be involved in driving that so there is a pathway moving forward.
Hocking said they were after interested players for both the women’s and youth league girls sides.
Any interested players can contact: https://www.facebook.com/RoxburghParkFootballNetballClub
