Gerald FitzGerald back at North Ballarat

[onslaught]

The Ballarat Courier says he will coach the Rebels U18 side in 2005.

[goaldrush]

The Ballarat Courier says he will coach the Rebels U18 side in 2005.
This is a great move. He is a great coach who will do the job nicely.

[goaldrush]

Found the article.....

FITZGERALD BACK HOME
By David Brehaut
Tuesday, 9 November 2004

GERARD FitzGerald is back at North Ballarat Football Club.

FitzGerald will coach the North Ballarat Rebels in the TAC Cup under-18 competition.

He fills a vacancy left by Anthony Rock, who has moved to AFL club Melbourne as an assistant coach after three years with the Rebels.

The appointment is a homecoming for FitzGerald, who spent six years coaching North Ballarat in the Victorian Football League.

FitzGerald, 47, who led the Roosters to two grand finals and still lives in Ballarat, has never hidden his desire to one day return to the Northern Oval.

He is back after a two-year hiatus in the VFL - coaching the St Kilda-aligned Springvale in 2003 and Kangaroos-aligned Port Melbourne this year.

Despite leading Port Melbourne into the grand final, FitzGerald was not guaranteed the job for next season.

He jumped at the opportunity to apply for the Rebels' coaching and development role when it arose.

And North Ballarat and Football Victoria had little hesitation in securing one of the best credentialed coaches outside the AFL.

"This is very much a homecoming for Gerard, who has retained close ties with the club," North Ballarat president Peter Wilson said yesterday in announcing the appointment.

"Spiritually he never left.

"His ambassadorial skills and vast knowledge, not only in football, but also of people in our region, means that he will successfully implement the grassroot development programs and build strong relationships with leagues and clubs in our region," he said.

FitzGerald believes his school teaching background will be of assistance, having coached school teams in the past.

He also see the experience of having worked with AFL clubs over the past two seasons being beneficial.

FitzGerald said this had given him an understanding of what AFL coaches were looking for in young players.

Rebels training will officially start on November 22.

New coach Gavin Crosisca led the North Ballarat Roosters's first pre-season training session last night.

Crosisca has joined the Roosters after being an AFL assistant coach at Hawthorn and the Kangaroos.

He takes over from ex-Sydney Swans rover Steve Wright, who did not have his contract renewed after two years at the Northern Oval.

http://ballarat.yourguide.com.au