The appointment of Daryn Cresswell as Rovers’ coach is one of the most significant in 50 years.
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“It’s been since the 1960s I think we’ve recruited somebody from the outside to take on the coaching role,” football operations manager Barry Sullivan said.
“This will hopefully set us up for the next 20 years.”
The Hawks’ coaching list is a who’s who of some of their finest players, including league Hall of Famers Merv Holmes, Peter Tossol and Matt Allen.
“We’ve been reflecting for quite a while that we needed to get somebody in who hasn’t been a part of the club,” Sullivan said.
“Last season (the club’s first winless wooden spoon in its 68-year history) was a watershed moment for us and you can go two ways, you can just accept it and not progress or you can get energised and do something about it.
“In that sense it is perhaps one of those line in the sand moments.”
Despite the tough year, Sullivan says he’s proud of the club for retaining a positive approach.
“I think there’s been more people ready to stand up and contribute and get involved than I’ve seen in the past 10 years or more,” he said.
The club ordered a full review of the football operations department with a handful of recommendations, including improving the strength and conditioning section, injury rehabilitation and overall coaching structure.
Sullivan also had tremendous praise for outgoing coach Ross Hill, who offered to step down if the club found a suitable replacement.
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