DECORATED footballer Ryan Knowles has arrived at Creswick to start his coaching journey.
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The four-time Redan premiership player and former Ballarat Football League representative has joined the Wickers from Springbank, where he has been listed since the 2012 season.
Knowles signed to Creswick on Thursday night and is set to play in the reserves on Saturday against Daylesford.
But the 32-year-old stressed that he doesn’t want any high expectations around him playing senior football, with the move to Creswick for the “coaching role more than anything”.
Knowles landed at Springbank when Sam Giblett took over at the helm following the 2011 season and was part of the club’s progression up the ladder.
He played 11 matches for the Tigers in 2014 – the year they lost in the grand final to Bungaree – but did not take the field at all last season.
Knowles told The Courier he had a connection to Creswick through a number of former Redan players, including the Wickers’ senior coach Damian Lubeek.
“I’ve always wanted to get into the coaching side of things,” Knowles said.
“Last season I was close to going (to Creswick) but I ended up having a season off from doing anything.”
Knowles, a talented cricketer who captained Brown Hill to a first eleven grand final last season, will join a coaching panel including Lubeek, Adrian King and Aaron and Geoff Hepworth.
Creswick president Mick Alsop is keen to have Knowles playing with the senior side and said it was great to lure a player of his caliber to the club.
“We’ve been looking for that type of person on-field and especially with his forward experience,” Alsop said.
Creswick hosts Daylesford on Saturday, looking to bounce back from its loss to Learmonth under lights last weekend.
The Wickers - 11th on the ladder - have won just one game so far in 2016 and come up against a Bulldogs side yet to register a victory this year.
Youngster Liam Blake is set to make his senior debut for Creswick in the round four encounter, which will be part of the club’s annual past players day.
Proceeds from the event are set to go towards the restoration of club memorabilia.
Meanwhile, Creswick is still chasing more numbers for its youth girls team that will play in the Ballarat competition this year.
The Wickers are running the side on behalf of the Central Highlands Football League, with the season set to get underway on May 8.
Chris Hammond has been appointed as the team’s inaugural coach.
