Tara Murray
Outgoing Roxburgh Park coach Michael Farrelly is proud to leave the club in a better place than when he started.
The Essendon District Football Club announced on Tuesday that Farrelly had decided to call time on his coach at the end of this season.
Farrelly joined the club for the 2018 season and guided the club to its first premiership that year, winning the division 2 flag.
The Magpies then defied expectations to remain in division 1, where they are still today.
They currently sit in seventh spot, with six wins for the season.
Farrelly said it was sad but exciting at the same time.
“Six years is a long time,” he said. “You get an inclination when a fresh face is needed.
“I’m a big believer in leaving a party while you’re still having fun, not leaving a few hours after you should have left.
“The relationships are still good, but the boys need a new voice.”
Farrelly said the club had come a long way since he started. When he was appointed there were only seven contracted players and only 11 turned up to the first training session.
“To see where we have gone from there to now, it’s been pretty crazy,” he said. “Through COVID is there as well.
“I’m very proud of where it is at. Hopefully we can get someone to come in who has really good knowledge of the local footy area and has lots of contacts to help get some more sponsors on board.”
While being the club’s first senior premiership coach, Farrelly said it’s the friendships that he treasures the most at the club.
He said there would be a lot of lifelong friendships that he would take away with him.
“Where I am with my career, I really value the friendships and relationships,” he said.
“I leave the place with good memories. The flag is something that you can always look at, but it’s the telling the stories at the club and catching up for dinner that I’ll enjoy much.”
Farrelly said it’s too early to say whether he will coach again, as it’s about looking forward to spending some more time with his young family.
For now, Farrelly is going to enjoy what time he has left as Magpies coach. The side are still a chance to make finals, but need everything to go right.
“It has been one of those seasons,” he said. “I’ve never been one to have excuses, but we’ve been decimated with injuries.
“We still have four weeks left, if we can break even it’s the same as last season. Hopefully we can go further than that.”
