Steve Kretiuk will not coach the Western Jets in 2013. 44550
By LIAM TWOMEY
WESTERN Jets coach Steve Kretiuk is set to announce his departure from the club this week.
The former Western Bulldogs AFL player has been in charge at the Jets for the past five years since taking over the top job from now Melbourne coach Mark Neeld.
In that time Kretiuk has developed some of the AFL’s most exciting young talent including Gold Coast’s Trent McKenzie, Essendon’s Elliott Kavanagh and Greater Western Sydney duo Will Hoskin-Elliott and Adam Kennedy.
Kretiuk hinted after the final game of the 2012 season that he may be looking to move on.
“We just need to let it pan out and see what happens,” he said after his side’s win against the Calder Cannons.
“Most coaches at this level are there for a reason, to develop themselves.
“There are a couple that don’t want to head up to a higher level, they are pretty happy coaching at TAC. I think most of them if you ask them will be looking to get back into the AFL system so I’ll just wait and see what happens there.”
Kretiuk’s departure coincided with last week’s TAC Cup Morrish Medal best and fairest presentation night.
The Jets were led by Josh Bench who finished in a tie for fifth on 11 votes for the season. He was six votes behind overall winner Nick Graham from the Gippsland Power.
Bench polled in six matches during the home and away season including the maximum three votes in round nine and 15 against the Northern Knights and Sandringham Dragons respectively.
One vote further back from Bench was team-mate Charlie Nastas on 10 votes.
Potential father/son draftee at the Western Bulldogs Lachlan Hunter was also rewarded for his outstanding season to be named on the full forward line in the team of the year.
