New Leopold coach Luke Kelly has labelled the opportunity to take the reins of the two-time reigning GFNL premier “a really good fit”.
The former Port Adelaide assistant was unveiled as the replacement for the departed Garry Hocking last (Tuesday) night.
Fellow former Port Adelaide assistant coach Aaron Greaves, who coached Leopold from 2008-10, and Footscray VFL coach Stewart Edge played a role in Kelly sitting down with the Lions.
“My time at Port Adelaide finished up, and I’ve got an eight-week-old at home, so we were pretty keen to get back to Victoria and get home and get around some family and friends.
“Once a few people in footy found out, they handed my details on, and Leopold gave me a ring.
“I was fortunate enough to catch up with them last week when I was back in town, and we had a really good conversation with where they’re at and where I sit with my coaching.
“It’s just a really good fit for where we’re both at and where we’re going forward.”
Having been handed the keys to the Ferrari of local football, Kelly is in no hurry to alter the course Leopold is on as it looks to become the first club since South Barwon in 2007 to win a hat-trick of flags.
“When we sat down, I said I’m keen to get in there and have a look at where they’re at,” he said.
“Being tied up at AFL level, I’ve only started rewatching their games from last year to familiarise myself with them.
“I said, “You’ve got a really strong leadership in place and a really strong culture”.
“I’m keen to come in and see where I can help continue to guide it and give these guys the best chance to sustain success.
“And that includes developing the next wave (of talent).”
Kelly was quick to pay tribute to the work Hocking did in his three seasons, with Leopold making the final game of the season on each occasion.
“With the way Garry set them up and the way they played their football, I’m too unfamiliar (with his style),” he said.
“He set up a really strong gameplan that’s not too dissimilar to what gets rolled out at AFL level.
“The ability to go in and just continue to add to it is exciting.”
After 13 seasons in the AFL system, with roles at the Western Bulldogs and the GWS Giants before a three-year stint at Port Adelaide, Kelly has ambitions to return to the elite level.
“To be honest, when I first started out at the (Geelong) Falcons punching stats in, I always wanted to be an AFL head coach,” he said.
“I’ve always made that well known, and I’m not stepping away from that.
“But, right now, my journey’s taken me to Leopold, and that’s my focus now.
“What happens from here will play out. As you learn in football, you can’t control a lot of things.
“You can control what’s in front of you right now, (and) I’m excited for the future with Leopold.”
X: @krockfootball
