Jarrett Giampaolo is hoping just get the chance to coach a normal Ballarat Football Netball League season after signing on for a fourth year in Redan's top job.
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The Lions premiership player first took on the role in 2019, guiding his side to the semi-finals before an abandoned 2020 season and an eighth-place finish in a heavily disrupted 2021 season.
"I'm happy to go around again, and after the two years that we've had, I feel like we haven't had a good run at it," Giampaolo told The Courier.
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"My first year, 2019, was a good year, and we got a whole year of footy in. We were able to win a final, and we felt like we were building towards something, but then all of a sudden, 2020 came along.
"Then 2021 was just a really bad year with injuries and all the stops and starts (with lockdowns), and then we didn't even get the season finished.
"So, I really don't know how good of a coach I am yet. I am yet to really do it properly."
The Lions were one of five clubs to finish the season with a 5-5 record and missed finals by 11.66 per cent.
A testing campaign saw captain Liam Hoy suffer a season-ending Achille's injury in round three, veteran big man Orren Stephenson only manage one game, and a total of 39 players called upon for the senior team.
"Even though we were disappointed with how this year went as far as how we played and what we were able to do, we realised that there were a lot of challenges that everyone was facing," Giampaolo said.
"Our list was hit pretty hard with some devastating injuries to some really important players.
"So, we didn't get to see our full potential, and a lot of the pressure probably went on to the younger guys that were still developing and probably weren't exactly ready to shoulder the load yet.
"Hopefully, with a good off-season, we'll be able to have a set list and have another go."
Giampaolo has become the seventh coach to re-sign for the 2022 season, joining East Point's Jake Bridges, Sebastopol's Michael Searl, Bacchus Marsh's Tom German and Melton's Aaron Tymms in committing to another year.
Ballarat's Joe Carmody and Sunbury's Travis Hodgson have agreed to two-year extensions.
As it stands, only Lake Wendouree and Darley will enter the new season under new coaches.
Melton South is yet to confirm its coaching set-up for next season.
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