DAVID Hosking has announced his re-commitment to Ararat Football Club for the 2016 season.
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The senior coach spoke to the 320-strong crowd at the club’s presentation night that was held on September 26.
Hosking told The Ararat Advertiser the decision to sign on again was a relatively easy one to make.
“There’s a real feeling among the club and players that we didn’t finish the season the way we would have liked,” he said.
Ararat sat in fourth position on the Wimmera Football League ladder for the majority of the season, only to lose to Stawell in the cut-throat elimination final.
Rats’ president, Billy Bell, was full of praise for Hosking and said he had the backing of the playing group.
“Our club’s reappointment of David as senior coach for 2016 season has largely been underpinned by the continued loyalty of the playing group who has endorsed him as their preferred leader,” Mr Bell said.
“The majority of our playing list has recommitted to our club for season 2016, our club leaders view this as a testament to David’s coaching and people management skills.”
Mr Bell outlined Hosking as a coach who is continually evolving and embracing the challenges of coach and managing people.
“Our people see David as a strong leader of our club, who lives by our clubs values and behaviours and expects the same of our players,” he said.
“There are young men in our playing group that consider David to be a positive father figure as well as a quality coach.”
Hosking is already on the lookout for suitable people to consolidate the club’s senior coaching panel. These senior coaching panel positions will be advertised and announced in the near future.
Jill Brennan, the club’s senior fitness coach during the 2014/2015 seasons is standing down from this position and will be sadly missed. Brennan will be handing the reins over to James Laidlaw and Jake Robinson. The pair will assist Hosking in managing player fitness in 2016.
Meanwhile, Will Bell has been reappointed as Ararat’s senior reserves coach.
“Will is a great positive role model for the young players and with ten years coaching experience, is a valuable asset to the Ararat Football Club,” Mr Bell said.
Bell continues to develop as a coach and has continued commitments to coaching roles with the Rebels Youth Girls team and the Youth Girls state development squad. The club considers Bell to be a great development coach with modern ideas that benefit the young senior playing group.
Alan Slocombe is the newly appointed coach of the Rats’ under 17 squad.
His experience includes working nearly two years with ‘The Leading Teams Program’. This program in recent times has had a major positive influence on the cultures at both Geelong and Hawthorn Football Clubs. Slocombe successfully coached the Bombers’ under 13 side to a premiership in recent times and has a strong reputation in youth development. He will be assisted by two of Ararat’s senior footballers, Ryan and Jacob Bates.
Mick Driscoll has been reappointed as Ararat’s under 14 squad coach. Driscoll successfully joint coached the Rats’ under 14 squad to a premiership in 2015, as well as coaching the Mounties under 13 team to grand final success. According to the club, Driscoll is a kind-hearted and fair coach who has a positive influence on the players and their developmental state.
“Our club is very fortunate to have secured Mick’s skill set for our junior development program,” Mr Bell said.
Rats senior player, Harry Ganley, has offered his services to help Driscoll in the 2016 season.