40 YEARS ON, BACK TO WHERE I BEGAN
MARK McDowell has completed a 40-year homecoming, returning to the club where his football career began.
McDowell signed as North Shore senior coach yesterday, pulling on the famous blue and gold for the first time since the late 1970s.
“I last played here in the under-15s, with Laurie Davies as the coach, before crossing over to Geelong West,” McDowell said, standing inside the clubrooms at Windsor Park.
He continues a long family history with the Seagulls, with his father Harry and uncle Marcus on North Shore’s honour board.
“Dad won a best-and- fairest here (1959) and my uncle Marcus McDowell was chairman of selectors alongside Gordon Hynes through the glory years at North Shore,” McDowell reflected.
Leading Inverleigh to backto-back GDFL grand finals, McDowell agreed to a threeyear deal.
He takes over from playing coach Sam Darley, who he considered joining as a cocoach before the former AFL player walked out on the club.
“When it broke in the media was the first time I heard about (Sam leaving),” McDowell said.
“Then the club wanted to get together and talk. So then it changed a bit, and there was something else for me to consider because it seemed pretty appealing to come in as a co-coach at that stage.
“And that opportunity’s open if we come across someone who we think can come in as a co-coach. It’s certainly not closed that door.”
McDowell said his first step as coach was to retain a bulk of the senior list.
“The club’s done a pretty good job of getting a commitment from the players; I think there’s only a couple I need to get around to get their commitment for next year,” McDowell said.
“I’ll be trying to retain all the resources that we have, and hopefully add to that.
“It’s pleasing that most of the group’s all recommitted so I can really jump straight in and get focused on recruitment.”
McDowell is confident of retaining stars Mitchell Vandenberg and Julian Debosz and is hopeful of securing former playing coach and Carlton development coach Jason Davenport on a semi-regular basis.
McDowell admitted he had missed the boat with a handful of former Hawks, including Jak Kennedy-Hunt, Blake Hutchinson and Dalton Grundell, who have moved from Inverleigh to new clubs in recent weeks.
The Seagulls will immediately kickstart the search for recruits, eager to bolster its coaching ranks.
“We’re looking for someone,” McDowell said.
“Some of the ones we’re considering, whether they want that coaching role — a lot of them seem to like that assistant-type role first, then maybe move into it.
“They get a little bit scared off by the idea of a co-coach.
“We’ll see what’s out there, but it’s an option to consider if the right person comes along.”