LAVINGTON stalwart Kerry Bahr has joined arch rivals Yarrawonga as an assistant coach.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Bahr assisted Pigeon co-coach Brendan Fevola during the Ovens and Murray’s interleague campaign this year, with the dual Coleman medallist luring him to the coaching staff at J.C. Lowe Oval.
Bahr has coached the Panthers’ thirds for the past two years and said he was excited to be stepping into senior ranks.
“It’s always a bit awkward leaving your home club, but Lavington has people in these positions and I just see it as a natural progression with my coaching,” Bahr said.
“A senior type gig is something I was keen to get into and an opportunity came up at Yarrawonga.
“I think Yarrawonga wants to bring along its younger players and that’s something I’ll be involved in.
“It’s a different horizon and something I’m looking forward to.”
Bahr played 319 matches for Lavington and won senior best and fairests in 1989, 1991, 1996 and 1999.
He also played 38 games for Wodonga Raiders.
Fevola said Bahr’s knowledge of the Ovens and Murray would be invaluable.
“I worked with Bahry with the Ovens and Murray side and liked how he went about it so when the season finished I got in touch with him and it went from there,” he said.
“We wanted someone from the outside to come in and speak his mind.
“It’s a good little coup for us. “He’s been around the league for years and is just the sort of person we were looking for.”
Yarrawonga had 42 players at its first training session on Tuesday night, with Matt Dwyer one of the senior players to hit the track.
Dwyer missed this year’s campaign after rupturing his ACL playing touch football, and shapes as a huge inclusion.
“He’s like the general for us in defence,” Fevola said.
“We missed his pace and experience last season.”
Co-coach Drew Barnes (Achilles) took his moonboot off last week, while speedster Nick Lawless will also return after sitting out the year with a foot injury.