WestVic Hockey and Hockey Ballarat president Michael Poulton said with WestVic having narrowly missed finals last season, the right leadership would lead it to division one in 2015.

He said the club was seeking a coach who had been successful at a premier or Vic league one level.

“The talent is certainly there. What we haven’t had is the game plan that consistently shows us as a top-two team,” Poulton said. “We’ve been relying on local coaches who have had a strong knowledge of local hockey. What we need to do now is take it to the next level.

“I think one of the issues for local sport is the ability to cater for high level teams with local coaches,” he said.

Last season’s coach Gavin Mann did not seek

re-appointment owing to “high demands of family life”.

“His contract was up after two years and the demands of family life were too great,” Poulton said.

“We would have been happy to re-appoint Gavin, but he was the one who put his hand

up and said it was too much work and couldn’t continue.”

Geelong won last season’s division two title and has been promoted to division one, marking the first entry of a regional side into the second tier competition in the state since the new format was introduced in 2012.

Poulton said WestVic had been an even match against Geelong last season,

winning once each from two clashes. 

Former Geelong coach Phil Frost is the new coach of the WestVic’s women’s state league one team.

WestVic was set to be relegated before Albury-Wodonga left the league.

WestVic senior fixtures

WOMEN’S VIC LEAGUE 1

Saturday, April 5: v Kew (h)

Saturday, April 12: v Southern United (a)

Monday, April 14: v Mornington (h)

Sunday, April 27: v Melbourne Uni (a)

Saturday, May 3: v Geelong (a)

Saturday, May 10: v Brunswick (h)

Saturday, May 17: v La Trobe Uni (a)

Saturday, May 24: v Monash Uni (a)

Saturday, May 31: v Mornington (a)

Sunday, June 1: v Yarra Valley (h)

Saturday, June 14: v Old Xaverians (h)

Saturday, June 21: v Kew (a)

Sunday, June 29: v Southern United (h)

Saturday, July 5: v CV Blazers (a)

Sunday, July 13: v Melbourne Uni (h)

Saturday, July 19: v Geelong (h)

Saturday, July 26: v Brunswick (a)

Saturday, August 2: v Latrobe Uni (h)

Saturday, August 9: v Monash Uni (h)

Saturday, August 16: v Yarra Valley (a)

Saturday, August 23: v CV Blazers (h)

Saturday, August 30: v Old Xaverians (a)

MEN’S VIC LEAGUE 2

Saturday, April 26: v PEGS (a)

Saturday, May 3: v Knox (a)

Saturday, May 10: v MHSOB (h)

Saturday, May 17: v Frankston (a)

Saturday, May 24: v CV Blazers (h)

Saturday, May 31: v Monash Uni (a)

Saturday, June 14: v St.Bernards (h)

Saturday, June 21: v Box Hill (h)

Saturday, June 28: v Mornington (a)

Saturday, July 5: v PEGS (h)

Saturday, July 12: v Knox (h)

Saturday, July 19: v MHSOB (a)

Saturday, July 26: v CV Blazers (a)

Saturday, August 2: v Frankston (h)

Saturday, August 9: v Monash Uni (h)

Saturday, August 16: v Box Hill (a)

Saturday, August 23: v St.Bernards (a)

Saturday, August 30: v Mornington (h)