New Grubbers coach on hunt for players
NEWLY appointed Ocean Grove coach Jordan Jones says he is confident of landing some experienced recruits in the coming months as he sets about returning the Grubbers to finals football.
Jones, who spent two years with West Coast at the start of the decade and played this season with VFL finalist Williamstown, will sit down with the Ocean Grove match committee in the next fortnight to assess what type of players the club should pursue.
But he said he was looking to use his connections to bring in players with strong character and who could add to the existing playing group.
“We are going through it at the moment and finetuning the list and identifying what our needs are and we will go from there, but at this stage it is pretty early on,” Jones said.
“Now that all footy has finished in the area I will sit down with the committee and players and see who we might go after. There is every chance a couple of guys that I know could possibly be finishing up at VFL level, but with the points system and the salary cap it is about seeing if we can fit them in.
“They are going to have to be the right type of person as well to have around the footy club, but I know a few of these players so I will certainly have a chat to some of them and see if I can convince them to come down and play with Ocean Grove next year.”
Jones is a former Ocean Grove Collendina Cobras junior who will add height and experience to the Grubbers defence in 2019. The 28-yearold said while he still felt he had more to give at VFL level, he was ready to dip his toes into the coaching waters.
“I probably always thought I would end up at Ocean Grove but I didn’t necessarily know whether that was going to be playing or coaching,” he said.
“I did think playing initially but an opportunity has comes up to coach and try to get the club back on track so I decided to give it a crack.
“I am only 28 so I had a desire to continue on but the opportunity to coach back in my home town was just too good to resist.”