Burras lose coach Canavan

By Mark Gullick
KEYSBOROUGH coach Brad Canavan has quit the position at Rowley Allen Reserve.
But he will lead the Burras for the final three matches of the 2011 season.
Keysborough is studying the possibility of moving from Casey Cardinia to the Southern league next year.
“The club was happy for me to go on (for the remaining three matches), which is good. I think they’ve been reasonably happy with me,” Canavan said.
“The boys want me to stay on … and I dare say they wanted me to stay on next year, from the feedback I got.”
Canavan cited cultural and financial issues as reasons for his decision.
“(The players) understand the situation I’m in and the situation the club is in, in terms of having a poor seconds side and no under-18s,” Canavan said.
“I’m a teacher by profession and I want to develop blokes. I know it’s a bit harsh, but (I want) players that fall into line and want to be better and aren’t set in their ways.
“I know that’s a crack at some of our Keysy boys, but the ones who have listened and developed have played good footy.”
During the year, Canavan has helped with the club’s off-field position, which has diluted his focus on coaching.
“I do more than just coaching,” he said. “This year I’ve been involved with sponsorship and marketing and out there in the community.
“Unfortunately at Keysy, there were too few doing too much off field and maybe a few blokes have been doing it for too long and got a bit stale.
“Myself and (Keysborough captain) Ryan Goodes, who is another potential coach in the next couple of years, put together sponsorship packages and went out to the local shops at Parkmore for the first time in 10 years.
“We really pushed that because you need the funds to buy players.”
The issue of recruitment was a sore point for Canavan, who was bitterly disappointed to lose Greg Walker and other key players to nearby clubs Springvale Districts and Noble Park.
“Last year I had a kid who was captain of the under-18s, Josh Ferguson,” Canavan said.
“I played him three games last year and thought he was coming back to play senior footy for me, but he ended up going to Noble Park to play under-19s.
“So the one kid that we did play in the seniors last year left us and there’s nothing else there, unfortunately. (Keysborough) are a little tight with their playing budget.”
Canavan is keen to continue coaching and will actively seek a senior position next year.
“I just need to get to a club where I can get some good kids to develop,” he said. “I think I’ve got a lot to offer as coach and I’m only young.
“It has been two horrific years for me, but hopefully it doesn’t tarnish my coaching reputation because before this, it has been pretty good.
“I’ve been a reserves coach locally, been a forward line coach and coached a VFL reserves side (Frankston) to finals footy. I know I can coach, I know what works, it’s just finding the right club and the right group of players.”
Canavan believes there will be few blokes who will want to play footy for him.
“I think there are. Keysborough will be competitive, but they need a coach that can bring four or five (players) in. I came back from VFL level and when you bring players back from VFL level, they’re going to cost you an awful lot of money.”
Keysborough has won three matches and is sitting in ninth place. Last year it won six games to finish eighth.