Eagles in market for coach after Power surprises club by pulling plug
EAST Geelong has praised departing coach Jeremy Power for his efforts in turning around the club’s fortunes as it hunts for a new coach.
The Eagles are one of two GDFL clubs looking for a new mentor, with Chris Moore and Anakie also parting ways.
Power told East Geelong president Sean O’Leary of his intentions over the weekend, catching the club “by surprise a little bit”.
“Just with work and family, he found it a bit hard,” O’Leary said.
“I’m obviously disappointed he doesn’t want to do it, but over the moon with the position he’s left the club in and forever grateful for that. He still wants to be involved somehow, not in a formal role but a bit of mentoring.”
Power took East Geelong to its first finals series since 2014 last year in his second season.
“He’s left the club in a better place and the whole playing group is passionate about the club,” O’Leary said.
“It would be a nice little job to fall into if a good candidate was to come along. I know every club would say that, but from where we were when ‘Jez’ came on board to where we are now, it’s been a big jump in the junior structure, the senior playing group, the netball and pretty much the whole club.”
Anakie has enlisted the help of local coaching great Heath Jamieson to help find Moore’s replacement.
President Heath Menhennet said the club had a transition plan in place at the end of this year, but the coronavirus and cancellation of the season brought that strategy forward.
Moore was preparing for his fifth season in charge at the Roos and the club had high ambitions for 2020.
“We sat down and had a chat, it was probably one of the hardest chats I’ve ever had as a president,” Menhennet said.
“He’s shown some great maturity in how he’s gone about it. I can only thank him for his time.”
He said Jamieson was helping point the club in a new direction.
“I know Heath through some working life and he’s been great to be able to give us some feedback and contacts from his world,” he said. “We know we need to try look under every stone we can to get the best result for the club.”