Pilgrim takes sole charge
RON Pilgrim will lead Bannockburn next season as the club’s solo head coach.
Pilgrim and playing cocoach Jack Brauman led the Tigers to a second-consecutive GDFL premiership in September, however Brauman announced mid-season he would not coach again in 2023.
Bannockburn footy manager Zach Hickleton said the club was open to options when it came to a coach for next year, but committed to Pilgrim for another season.
“We knew we had Ronny in our back pocket but we wanted to open it up to see what was out there,” he said.
“We interviewed some really good candidates and some really good people, but it worked out that Jack was going to be sticking around for a bit longer and the guys we already had, we didn’t really want to change it up too much.
“It was really successful year, as everyone can see.”
Hickleton said Brauman would stay “heavily involved” as a senior leader, while some other big names would step up to form a team of assistants around Pilgrim.
“People like Kieran Fulton, Tristan Battaglia, Dan Measures will all play a part in training and game day,” he said.
“We’ve been very player driven in the last couple of years and that won’t change (next) year, there’ll be a lot of input from the players in how they want to play and how they want to train, even their recovery.
“A couple of outsiders that we’re still confirming will come in and make a big team around him (Pilgrim).”
Pilgrim said he was excited to go around as coach again.
“Hopefully we can build and get stronger again, we’ve got a young list and I’m really happy to stay involved and keep that momentum going,” he said.
Hickleton said Pilgrim was an ideal fit for the Tigers.
“He loves coaching, he’s a ripping fella, loves footy,
He loves coaching, he’s a ripping fella, loves footy, knows footy really well, he gets the best out of players
BANNOCKBURN FOOTY MANAGER ZACH HICKLETON
knows footy really well, he gets the best out of players,” he said.
“He’ll be the voice and the manager as such and there’ll be a big team around him.”
Hickleton said most of Bannockburn’s list had re-signed, however Josh Cole was “likely to retire”.
He said a replacement for Cole was on his radar in terms of recruits, but added that the Tigers weren’t looking to bring in too many players.
“We sort of need to fill that void at centre-half back … and maybe a key position forward,” Hickleton said. “Apart from that we don’t want to sort of rock the cart too much by bringing in too many players.”