Michael Searl has agreed to coach Sebastopol for a second year in the Ballarat Football League.
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He said it had been an easy decision to stay after not getting the Burra out onto the ground this year.
"The energy and desire to do it is still there."
Searl took on the job after Leigh Hutchinson stepped down after two seasons at the helm and leading Sebastopol to last year's grand final.
A two-time North Ballarat Roosters VFL premiership player, and Springbank premiership player and coach, Searl said by re-signing now it sent a message to the playing group about his commitment to the club.
He is hopeful this leads to a flow-on effect as the Burra works to retain the bulk of its senior list.
Sebastopol players are taking a break at the moment, but Searl is not ruling out some form of training or other group activities ahead of a normal pre-season schedule. Searl said this would be player-driven.
He said he was mindful of giving players a break to freshen up after what had been an extended "pre-season".
"We'll get together and get the thoughts of everyone."
For Searl, this has been his first year without full-on football involvement in a decade.
He interrupted his VFL career at North Ballarat to travel overseas in 2010 and 2011, and then after another three years at the Roosters moved to Springbank.
Searl said this year had underlined how much he appreciated everything about the football community, such as Thursday night social gatherings with players and people around the club.
"You don't realise how much important this interaction is in your life and until you don't have it."
Looking to 2021, Searl said the club was well placed to again make a major challenge to be right at the top.
He said the future looked bright and his objective was to keep the momentum going.
Sebastopol has come on in leaps and bounds over the past few years after two decades as a cellar dweller.
The Burra has climbed from one win in 2017 to eight wins and seventh place in 2018, and then 11 victories and second position last year.
Sebastopol is the third club in the past week to announce the reappointment of a senior coach.
Joe Carmody is staying on for a third year at Ballarat, while Tom German has re-signed with Bacchus Marsh.
German is same situation as Searl, having been in his first year at a club and still to coach in a home and away game.
Al levels of the BFL competition have been abandoned this year owing to the COVID-19 pandemic.