Newly-appointed St Mary’s co-coach Ben Boseley has described his decision to return to coaching as an “itch that I wanted to scratch”.
K rock Football revealed last Thursday the appointment of the former East Geelong and Birregurra mentor to share the Saints role alongside Luke Rayner following the departure of GFNL playing and coaching great Glenn Keast.
“I just love coaching,” Boseley said. “I love spending time with people and players; I love investing in people.
“I love footy. There’s always an element I’m thinking about what’s best, what’s next, and how do we reconnect, redefine, (and) reposition?
“Whether that’s programs, whether that’s tactics, whether it’s, ‘How do we get the players in their best state of mind to play footy?’.
‘This opportunity allows me to get back involved and coach, and be around people and impact not only the football team but the St Mary’s community.”
Boseley spent two seasons with East Geelong.
After posting a 10-2 win-loss record in the Covid-shortened 2021 season, the Eagles claimed the minor premiership in 2022 but bowed out of the premiership race after losing both finals.
Contracted for the 2023 season, Boseley announced mid-season he would be stepping down, with East citing increased work and family commitments.
The middle-school coordinator at Covenant College says he’s been considering a return to coaching for 12 months.
“Particularly the last couple of months, and working through what I can give, how much time I have, and what opportunities would be best for me and my family,” Boseley said.
“St Mary’s, we had a conversation a while ago. From that point, we decided I’d partner together with ‘Raynes’ and work on tweaking a few things as we look to strengthen our position.
“It’s come about pretty quickly. But I just had to reconcile and work through what I could give.
“And the more we spoke, what it would look like with Raynes and I, I was really comfortable, and I’m really looking forward to the opportunity.”
Boseley and Rayner are no strangers to each other, having coached against each other in previous roles.
“When he was down at Winchelsea, and I was at Birre, we’d organise practice matches against Winchelsea,” Boseley said.
“This is 2015, 16, so we’ve connected from that point.
“We’ve seen each other regularly around the community or at footy games, and we’ve always had a conversation and a relationship.
“When Luke initiated those conversations a while away regarding St Mary’s, it was a pretty easy one to think about from that strong relationship we’ve had for many years.”
A two-time premiership player with South Barwon, Boseley is looking forward to being part of the GFNL system again.
“I loved my time in the GFL with South; it was a great ride, and some great people,” he said.
“It was a very good standard back in the day when I was with South. But the standard now, with the players, the programs, the coaching, it’s really at the next level.
“I look forward to contributing and establishing myself in the GFL.”
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