Luke Phipps in action for Hoppers Crossing. 35889 Picture: EMILY LANE
BY MICHAEL ESPOSITO
NEW Werribee Centrals coach Luke Phipps believes the ultimate success is in his grasp, and has enlisted the help of some of his old WRFL team-mates to help him achieve that success.
Phipps, who for the past six years has played with WRFL side Hoppers Crossing, said Werribee Centrals had the list to claim a Geelong and District Football League premiership.
Joining him at Centrals are David Clonan, Tyren Montebruno and Chris Brierty from Hoppers Crossing, and Chris Koutzamanis and Phil Jones from fellow WRFL club Glen Orden.
Phipps said he recruited players suited to the wide expanses of St Albans Reserve, where the GDFL grand final is played.
“I went and watched the last final that they played out at St Albans … just so I could see what I needed for next year recruitment-wise,” he said.
“I recruited guys that are going to cover the ground. There’s 20 metres between the 50-metre mark and centre square and with the current crop of players and a couple of guys coming in, it’s what needed to happen to take that next step.”
Phipps, who will join the Centurions as a playing coach, said his lack of premiership success was one of the motivating factors in accepting the role at Werribee Centrals. The closest Phipps has got to lifting a premiership cup was being involved in two losing grand finals in his 16-year playing history.
“I played with (outgoing coach) David Leatch in the 2006 losing grand final, same as David Clonan, Chris Koutzamanis and Tyren Monebruno,” he said
“We really want to take that step, but there’s a lot of water to go under the bridge for that to happen, a lot of hard work needs to be done, and things need to go right at the pointy end of the season.”
Phipps said it was the right time to take on his first senior coaching role.
“In the past two or three years I’ve had a couple of approaches to start up coaching. I just finished playing with Hoppers this year and I just wanted to get into coaching while I’m still getting a kick,” he said.
“I thought Werribee Centrals was the best fit for myself. The team in the last three years have played finals, they’ve got a good group of young guys, a few under-18s played some senior football this year and I just thought the next couple of years could be a really good chance for some success.
“I think every new coach wants to come in and have their own stamp on the style of play. I’ll definitely be bringing in a couple of different game plans throughout the year that can be worked on to suit the St Albans ground.”
