Ricco happy to stay
PETER Riccardi has received the all clear from wife Mel to coach on at Bannockburn next season, despite the Tigers advertising for the position.
Riccardi gave the club permission to put feelers out in case a better candidate wanted the job, but an ad appeared online earlier than expected.
“The expression of interest was meant to be put up next week after everyone’s had a chat, but it got mixed up between the president and the vice-president and it’s been put up,” he said.
“But myself and the club have a good relationship, we know I’m only year by year.
“The question came up and I wasn’t quite sure.
“I hadn’t really thought about it because I was too busy thinking about finals and getting through these last few games.
“Just so they’re not going to fall behind if there’s a candidate that comes up (I said), ‘Go for it’.”
Riccardi spoke to his wife, Mel, on Wednesday night after it became public and said he planned to speak to his players last night to see whether they wanted him to coach on for a fifth year.
“She’s happy for me to do it again, so that’s one conversation that’s been ticked,” he said. “Next is probably the players (and) the coaching group.”
Riccardi said a premiership this year would not change his decision.
“If you get close to one, you go, ‘S---, one more year, I’ll have another go’, and if you do win one, you think, ‘Gee, we’re going well, let’s do it again’. It’s a catch 22,” he said.
“Something I haven’t had at senior level is a premiership. I had one as a kid, at under-16s, but that’s it.
“Stopping at one would be nice but you’d like to win as many as you can.”
The Geelong great said the opportunity to coach at a higher level could wait.
“You never say never, but at the same time, I’m very happy at Bannockburn,” he said.
“Maybe it’s something where I’m comfortable. At this stage, Bannockburn is a good fit for me, with kids and that.
“If the kids were a bit older, yeah, maybe go to a GFL club if something came up. But with my own business and kids, this all fits in pretty well.”
Meanwhile, the Tigers are nearing full strength with only Michael Stevenson (hamstring) and Nathan Kelly (hamstring) unavailable to face Geelong West.
Forward Tom Gillies is set to return from a calf complaint, while Kieran Fulton trained strongly after nearly two months on holidays.