WFL Record 13.indd - Western Region Football League

MENZEL APPOINTED CARETAKER COACH
Leading Junior Coach To Fill Vacant Role Until Season’s End
Glenorden will have a new man at the
helm for the remainder of the season,
with Justin Menzel taking the reins of
the senior side. Replacing outgoing coach Jason
Fastuca, Menzel’s initial aim will be to try to
claim a win for the Hawks, with the side having
lost their opening twelve games of the season.
Menzel had been lined up to coach the club’s
Under-18’s this season, before the side folded
due to numbers, and has been helping out
in an assistant coaching capacity with the
club’s reserves.
Club President Ken Parker said Menzel was the
right choice to lead the side for the remainder of
the season.
“Justin as you know has had good exposure to
some really good coaching and mentoring and
is well respected at the club both as a player
and through previous coaching stints with our
juniors,” said Parker.
“Juzzy hopes to give more of our young guys
experience at playing senior football, try to be
competitive for longer periods of our game and
get the guys back to enjoying football.”
“We want to reinstate the spirit and culture that
the club has had over the years and build for the
2012 season.”
Parker said the club would be looking to advertise
and interview prospective coaches for 2012 by
the end of the season, and was clear to point
out that contrary to stories circling in the media
the club has not yet advertised the position, nor
interviewed anyone.
Parker commended Menzel for being willing to
step in and take the side while the club sorted out
its future direction.
“It will obviously help him in his future efforts
having exposure himself at Senior level,”
said Parker.
Menzel acknowledged that taking over the Hawks
was a challenge but believes it is important for
the club to start aiming towards a better season
in 2012.
Justin Menzel spent time with the Bulldogs coaching staff
earlier this year as part of an AFL initiative
“Any list that has experienced such a high
turnover as ours has over the past two years is
always going to fi nd it diffi cult to compete at this
level,” said Menzel.
“Going forward, our challenge is to retain this
playing group and add depth for next season.”
“My aim for the remainder of this season is to
lift morale and focus more on the positives
without worrying too much about the
scoreboard. Although it’s been a tough season
and disappointing not to have won a game, we’re
determined not to let results get us down.”
“Put simply, we need to be more competitive
for longer during games and set ourselves some
realistic goals. Rather than the scoreboard being
the only measure of success, I’m looking to
adopt some KPI’s that we can use to measure
improvements internally. Over the next seven
games I’ll be looking for us to show greater
consistency in several key areas.”
Menzel played junior football at Glenorden
and has been a long term player at the club.
He coached at Under-16 level in 2008, and last
year took the Under-18 side to a Preliminary
Final. Menzel has also played senior football at
Yarraville & Albion, and was selected to take part
in the AFL’s ‘Championship Moves’ program to
assist developing coaches.
By Cam Nation
3 WRFL FOOTY RECORD