Forget me, it’s all about the club

Although he played 81 games for North Melbourne and 9 for Brisbane Bears from 1985 to 1993, and spent time at Richmond as an assistant coach under Danny Frawley, Spargo yesterday said his dream had always been to lead the Ovens and Murray club.

Spargo will bow out of coaching after Sunday’s grand final against Yarrawonga at Lavington Oval and has ruled out a return to the hot seat.

“I love the Albury footy club,” Spargo said. “I didn’t ever aspire to play AFL football.

“My aspiration from a young age was to coach the Albury Football Club and I have been able to do that.

“Sunday is the last day I will ever do that so it’s been a terrific experience and I will miss that club atmosphere and camaraderie.

“I’m more mates with the guys than a coach and I’m just there to guide them along and hopefully help them develop and improve as footy players and people.

“If I have influenced them in any way, shape or form, then I will leave a happy man.”

Only Wangaratta Rovers pair Neville Hogan and Laurie Burt and Wangaratta legend Mac Holten match Spargo’s record of four premierships with the Tigers and he will stand alone if ladder leader Albury tastes success on Sunday.

But the Albury Team of the Century coach played down his record and said the grand final was about the players and club and not his farewell.

He has coached the club in 1994, 1995 and 1996, 2002, and 2009-2011.

“I would be disappointed if the players were thinking about me as a coach,” Spargo said.

“I would expect them to be thinking about one another and our club and jumper and what it would mean for us to win a premiership on Sunday.

“They have been a terrific group who have been, really, really resilient over the past three years,

“There is tremendous camaraderie there.

“It’s more about what it means to our club and the players than any individual.”