Ben Jordan carries high expectations – his own and those of the club – into his new appointment as Sunbury coach.
And he would not have it any other way on his return to the Ballarat Football League.
“It’s an exciting challenge. I can’t wait to get my teeth into it,” Jordan told The Courier.
Not surprising given this was not the first time he had thrown his hat into the ring for the job.
He will have his first meeting with club officials on Wednesday since securing the job on Monday night to ignite a vigorous recruiting campaign as Sunbury sets about taking the next step after losing this year’s grand final to Bacchus Marsh.
Jordan, 40, fills the vacancy left by 2012 premiership coach Rick Horwood, who he played under as an assistant coach at Sunbury in 2011.
He played in a losing grand final team that year – just as he had with East Point in 2006 during a three-year stay at the Eastern Oval in which he won the Henderson Medal in 2005 – so there is no doubt he has burning desire to claim his first BFL flag.
This is Jordan’s third time with Sunbury – he previously played in 2008 as an assistant coach to Tony Liberatore, and 2010-11 – which is not surprising given he has lived in the town for 30 years.
He played his junior football with the Sunbury-based Rupertswood and was also senior coach there in 2014-15 before moving into a development role with Essendon VFL team this year.
Jordan is confident that with the various coaching experience he has gained he is well placed to lead the Lions.
While this is the first time Jordan has coached in the BFL at club level, the former amateur all-Australian did coach the league’s country championship squad in 2013 after being an assistant in 2012.
Jordan is confident that Sunbury is placed to to remain at the forefront of the competition.
He said Horwood had overseen a period of development and left a strong culture and talent base with the potential to go to the next level.
“The club’s in a good place.”
Three-time Sunbury premiership player Shane Gilchrist has appointed Jordan’s assistant.
They spent time at Rupertswood together.
New reserves coach Niall McGovern also played under Jordan at Rupertswood.
