Kerang coach Troy Coates will sign off as a nine-time premiership player for his club, having announced his playing retirement following Saturday’s 10-point grand final win.
While Coates will continue as coach of the club in 2024, it will be in a non-playing capacity, with injuries forcing the long-time leader’s hand.
It was a day of mixed emotions for Coates, who spoke after the game, with the now six-time premiership coach ecstatic to get the win, but also battling to hold back the tears when announcing his retirement to his long-time teammates.
“I was very emotional actually, I struggled to hold back the emotions after the game,” Coates said.
“I’m just trying to suck it all in now, it’s pretty amazing to think it’s all done.
“At the same time, it (the win) feels unbelievable, I didn’t think it could get much better than last year.
“The win last year was just super, but to come out and play like this when we were up against it today was even more special.”
Kerang’s path to this year’s premiership was eerily similar to 12 months ago, with the Blues forced to come via the preliminary final after an embarrassing 50-point second semi-final defeat to Balranald a fortnight ago.
But Coates said it was a loss his team needed to have.“They (Balranald) smashed us two weeks ago and they’re a quality side,” Coates said.
“I have nothing but utmost respect for Jydon (Neagle) and his group, they were fantastic not just today but all season and will be back here again, I’m sure.
“We learned a lot from that game (second semi-final loss) and we had to make some changes, it was the kick up the backside we needed and it helped us today.
“There were no passengers today and that’s what you need to win a grand final, you can’t rely on four or five players to get it done, you need everyone.
“They were getting on top of us in that second quarter and I felt like they were coming hard.
“We obviously had that big game last week in hot weather, so the character of our boys in that second half was unbelievable.”
