‘I’VE TAKEN THEM AS FAR AS I CAN’
AFTER last year’s GFL elimination final, then outgoing Leopold football coach Steve Clark spoke philosophically about a coach’s life span at the local level.
Clark said “there comes a point as a coach where I think you need to freshen up because you’re giving the same message”.
A similar feeling has engulfed Manifold Heights captain-coach Chris Bambury in the past few weeks. And this week, the distinguished local veteran, who is again in the GCA’s Country Week squad ahead of next week’s title defence, officially decided this summer would be his last as Sharks coach.
A reassessment of whether he will continue his playing career will come at season’s end.
“I’ve just probably taken the guys as far as I can take them. They probably need a new voice, so then they know the level they have to get to,” Bambury said.
“We’ve survived relegation two years in a row and stayed in Division 2, but I think it’s time someone took them to the next level hopefully.”
After signing on as coach for 2016-17, Bambury led Manifold to six wins last season, two more than they managed the year previous.
This season however, even after avoiding relegation, the Sharks are languishing in seventh spot with just three wins (two against bottom-placed Newcomb & District) and one outright loss.
The regression under his watch has frustrated a coach who is used to success.
“Maybe some guys haven’t worked hard enough, but in saying that we probably haven’t had the calibre of recruits that other clubs have got as well,” he said.
“They need a little bit of cattle, which will help them immensely, but also need to understand that you don’t get something for nothing, so they also need to put in the time and the work as well.”
Admitting he had a coaching style that “some people fed off and some didn’t”, Bambury said playing and coaching for the past 20-plus years had taken a toll on his mind, with his body still willing enough to hit 300 runs so far this season and take 12 wickets.
His past two knocks have delivered half-centuries, including an unbeaten 90 carrying his bat against Newcomb & District last round.
“The mind more than anything requires challenges, and I’ve got a young son who plays sport on a Saturday while I’m playing, so there are lots of things to weigh up,” the 46year old said.
“Whether I go on next year or not. It could mean I stay at Mano, or it could mean I coach and not play, or it could mean I pull the pin altogether.”