Tiger coach Gleeson signs up to play on

TORQUAY coach Dom Gleeson has revealed he will play on next season after agreeing to a two-year contract extension.

Gleeson, a former Werribee and Geelong VFL champion, will now coach through to the end of 2019 season after putting pen to paper yesterday.

Gleeson said it was an easy decision to remain at the helm.

“Family was the big one,” Gleeson said. “My wife has been signed up for football since she was 17, when we first met, and she hasn’t argued the point because football is a big part of me.

“We’ve seen our young son grow up and be involved with Auskick, so football is going to be in our lives for a long time.

“I had a quick discussion with my boss at work and I decided to continue.”

Gleeson also weighed up whether to continue as a play- ing coach. “I’m in a transition and I told the club that I didn’t want the pressure of playing when I was 35-36,” he said.

“There were discussions around if I stopped playing would it be hard for them (club) and we’re having a change of leadership at the end of the year in regards to the board, but other than that it was pretty straightforward.

“I’ve really enjoyed my coaching . . . and I’ve grown to have a passion for it, particularly developing kids.”

Tigers football manager Kieran O’Dwyer said the club was excited to lock away Gleeson for another two years.

“Dom brings a wealth of experience as a person, footballer, leader and coach that has had, and will continue to have, a huge impact on the overall improvement of our club as we continue to work within the new state based framework and changing community sporting landscape,” O’Dwyer said.

“Dom is a wonderful person that, fortunately for Torquay, has chosen Torquay to be his family home and he represents the great values that we as a club strive to reflect.”

Heading into a preliminary final against Barwon Heads on Saturday, Gleeson said the club would move to appoint its coaching panel for next season after the finals series.

“No doubt there will be change with people working and sacrificing so much this year, but we’ll keep the nuts and bolts of it the same,” he said.