REIGNING premier Thurgoona has reappointed co-coaches Jamarl O’Sullivan and Jayden Kotzur for another season.
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And in a huge boost to the Bulldogs’ chances of more on-field success, Kotzur has shelved plans to retire after breaking his ankle earlier this year.
“We think it worked really well this year so we’ll be going again,” O’Sullivan said.
“It’s a really stable club and the indications are almost everyone will be back.
“We will coach in 2018 and hopefully help the club find someone to take over from us for the following year.”
O’Sullivan and Peter Copley guided Thurgoona to its maiden TDFL flag in 2016 before Kotzur joined O’Sullivan at the helm this year.
The Bulldogs thumped Kiewa-Sandy Creek in the grand final.
“At the moment we have a good mix of young and old blokes in the side,” O’Sullivan said.
“We feed off each other.
“A lot of the young blokes were pushed up early with the injuries we had and it was a blessing in disguise as they took their chances with both hands.”
Veteran spearhead Matt Fowler, who kicked nine goals in the grand final, is also set to play on.
“I’m loving it,” Fowler said.
“It’s only early, but I think I’ll have another season.
“Why hang them up when you still enjoy it?”
Fowler kicked 100 goals for the first time in his long career this season and saved some of his form for the finals when he was unlucky to miss best afield honours in the grand final.
Bulldog brothers Kade and Aydan Brown finished first and second in the Bulldogs’ best and fairest count.
Aydan was runner-up to Yackandandah’s Lee Dale in the league medal.
Meanwhile, Rutherglen has extended the contract of playing coach Damien Wilson for another two seasons.
The 21-year-old took the Cats to the preliminary final in his first season at the helm following the passing of former mentor Karl Jacka at the start of the year.
Rutherglen president Greg Lumby said it was a very easy decision to make.
“He’s been fantastic to carry the load on the field, as well as the off-field stuff that’s been going on,” Lumby said.
“He’s got so much respect from the players as a young kid and to be playing as good a footy as he did was sensational.
“Karl identified him as a young kid that could take us forward and be at the club for a few years to give us a bit of longevity, rather than changing coaches every year.
“He was obviously keen to stick around and we were rapt to get him on for another couple of years.
“The fact he’s so young he knows how to work well with the younger guys coming through, but at the same time, our senior guys respect him as well.”
Wilson won Rutherglen’s senior best and fairest award on Saturday night with his younger brother Cam finishing second.
Rutherglen also announced former Lavington mentor Tracy Way will join the club as the A and B grade netball coach for 2018.