AFTER spending almost half his life wearing navy blue, the final curtain will fall on one of the most important figures in Kerang Football Netball Club history tomorrow afternoon when Troy Coates officially says goodbye to the Central Murray.
After nine premierships, including six as coach, more than 200 games and eight seasons across two stints in charge of the Blues, the Coates years will end with the final siren in the grand final, with the veteran having announced his intention to step down earlier this season.
Although it’s expected that Coates won’t be the only departure, he will be the most significant, having been an important figure in the dynasty that has included 10 premierships from 14 grand final appearances over the past 18 seasons.
Coates will leave behind him a legacy that won’t be replaced, according to good friend and long-time teammate Ryan Gillingham, who himself will also be chasing his 10th premiership in navy blue.
“He has done it all as a player and coach, he’s arguably the best player that’s come through the club and definitely the best coach the club’s ever had,” Gillingham said.
“From a personal point of view, he’s had the most impact of anyone on me and my career.
“He’s been really conscious over the last couple of seasons of making sure the club is in a strong position for when he’s no longer here and that goes to show how much he loves this place.
“Last year he announced his playing retirement before the game and we all thought that would be it, so I was quite emotional after the
siren last year thinking that would be the last time, along with ‘Truck’ (Troy Davis) and a few other guys finishing up as well.
“I imagine I’ll feel pretty similar tomorrow. I’m trying not to think about too much because we have a job to do yet, but win, lose or draw, it will be the end now.
“The early premierships you kind of take for granted a little bit, because you think there will always be a next time, but now that we know there won’t be a next time for this group, I’ve got no doubt that there will be a few emotional guys.
“I just hope we’re celebrating and not commiserating.”
It’s a sentiment shared by the man himself, with Coates preparing for one last game for his beloved Blues after coming out of playing retirement mid-season.
For a club so entrenched in success, it’s no surprise that Coates was focusing purely on getting his team over the line one last time this week, rather than focusing on senior game 220 for Kerang.
“It won’t be something I’ll reflect on until about 5pm Saturday and, to be honest, I don’t really want to think too hard about it now
because I will get a little bit emotional and it will take my focus away a little bit,” Coates told The Guardian this week.
“I’ve played 16 years at Kerang now and only a couple of those I have lived in town, so there’s been a lot of time on the road with some really close mates that I’ve played a lot of footy alongside.
“We have four guys in our current senior side that have played 200 senior games and most of them have been together, which probably indicates how close I am with some of the boys and I’ve spent a fair portion of my life coaching the club too.
“It’s going to be different when it’s all finished, but I think the timing’s right.
“There’ll be no regrets, I feel as though I’ve given everything I could possibly give, so I leave with no regrets.
“This club will forever be home to me, it’s where I’ve spent 90 per cent of my career and the biggest thing about footy is the people you meet and the lifelong friendships you make.
“Obviously we’ve been very lucky to have the success we’ve had too, but I can’t speak highly enough of the people, right through from the committee, presidents, the players, supporters, and the quality people around the club that I’ll forever be grateful to have met.”
