Best and fairest Joe Carmody is returning to Ballarat in the Ballarat Football League to continue his coaching career.
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His appointment fulfills the Swans’ desire to return to having a non-playing coach.
He replaces Shane Hutchinson, who was playing coach for two years and is keen to play on after taking out Ballarat’s best and fairest award.
Carmody was last with the Swans in 2016 as a senior assistant to Ash Baker. Each moved into assistant coaching roles with Greater Western Victoria Rebels under-18s in the TAC Cup last year.
Carmody played his junior football with Ballarat and spent a large part of his senior playing career – 121 games – with the club, winning the 1999 best and fairest.
He began what has been an expansive time in coaching with CHFL club Bungaree as a senior assistant in 2006 and 2008, and then coached Springbank in partnership with Dean Romeril in 2010.
Carmody believes the time is right for him to take up the challenge of coaching at senior level in the BFL.
He said his experience with the Rebels over two seasons under the guidance of Gerard FitzGerald and Marc Greig was an ideal grounding for the move to Ballarat, where development of a young list would be a major focus. of his two-year tenure.
Carmody said he had enjoyed his two seasons at GWV Rebels, where he had developed some strong links with and access to mentors, whom would remain important contacts for him as he progressed in his new role.
A school teacher at St Patrick’s College, the 39-year-old last played with Ballarat in 2011 and 2012, and stayed on as an assistant coach in 2013.
He then returned to senior coaching in his own right at Mininera and District league club SMW Rovers in 2014 and 2015 before again spending time with the Swans.
Ballarat won three games this year and finished 10th.
Mick McKinnon will continue as reserves coach, with Zane Ross linking up as joint coach at Ballarat.
Tim Shearer will again coach the thirds, which next year nmoves from under-18.5 to under-19.