Division 1 heavyweight Balwyn has landed former AFL coach Rodney Eade as its mentor for season 2018, after parting ways with Marty Pask due to growing work commitments.
PICTURE: Jerad Williams/Courier Mail
Eade’s senior AFL coaching career totalled 377 matches, beginning at the Sydney Swans in 1996, leading the club to a grand final in his first season at the helm.
He subsequently coached the Western Bulldogs from 2005-2011, and the Gold Coast Suns from 2015-2017, also serving at Collingwood as football and coaching strategist from 2011 and director of football from mid-2013.
Eade played in four VFL premierships with Hawthorn during his 259-game playing career from 1976-1990.
BALWYN FOOTBALL CLUB OFFICIAL STATEMENT
After 2017 post-season discussions and more recent pre-season discussions, the Club’s head coach, Marty Pask, has regretfully advised he can no longer coach the Balwyn Football Club in 2018.
Marty’s business interests have grown significantly in the last 12 months and the demands on his time as head coach could no longer be sustained to commensurate to his business ambitions.
Marty led the Club to finals in his first year and led the Club’s off-season recruiting program. The Club has recently met with Marty and he confirmed his inability to continue to coach the Balwyn Football Club.
Balwyn Football Club wishes Marty all the best in his business endeavours and thanks him for his contribution to our Club.
As a result, the Balwyn Football Club is extremely pleased to announce the appointment of Rodney Eade as the senior coach for 2018. In announcing this appointment, Eade said: “I am passionate about coaching and the opportunity to continue my coaching career at Balwyn, where my sons have played. (It) is an opportunity to give back to the football community. I am looking forward to working with this highly successful community club.”
President Richard Wilson said: “This is one of those unique circumstances where a community club has the opportunity to bring in a person who has coached at the highest level for over 16 years. Rodney has had a decorated AFL coaching career that spanned 16 seasons with four AFL clubs and an AFL grand final appearance. We look forward to his contribution to our Club at the senior level and right through to our youth training program at Balwyn FC”.
