Colac has become the first GFNL club to enter the market for a new coach in 2025.
Following a meeting with club president Matt Gibson, incumbent Rowan McSparron told the Tigers he wouldn’t continue in the role he’s had since 2019.
McSparron told K rock Football that he and his wife Bianca are looking forward to spending time in the United States, where son Wade will spend the next four years on a football scholarship as a punter at the University of Central Flordia.
“‘Gibbo’ and I catch up this time every year and try and nut out what’s best for the footy club heading forward,” McSparron said.
“With Wade’s commitments overseas, myself and Bianca want to go over there and see him and watch him play.
“It probably doesn’t quite work out that I’ll have the ability to commit full-time to the coaching gig.”
A premiership player at Bell Park, McSparron joined Colac as co-coach alongside Kane Leersen ahead of the 2019 season,
That followed leading Geelong Amateur to consecutive Bellarine league premierships in 2015-16 and a grand final appearance in 2017.
He went solo at Central Reserve in the Covid-shortened 2021 season and shared the role with Darcy Lang across the 2022-2023 seasons before going it alone again this year.
Colac has made the finals in each of McSparron’s completed seasons in charge, losing a thrilling grand final to St Mary’s in 2019.
However, in the past two seasons, it has also made consecutive straight-set exits from the premiership race.
Despite knowing the finish line is in sight, McSparron is focused on the Tigers winning their second GFNL senior premiership.
They’re well-placed, with Saturday’s win over Geelong West putting them in fourth spot with a 6-2 win-loss record.
“We’re tracking in the right direction,” McSparron said.
“Some of the numbers that we put to the boys in the pre-season, and areas we wanted to improve on, we look like we’re heading that way.
“If we get that continued development with some of the younger boys coming through and the older boys playing some good footy, we’re going to be thereabouts.”
McSparron – who has an impressive 61-18 record at Colac – hasn’t put a line through coaching again in the future.
“I’ll definitely take 12 months or so to recharge and get over there and see Wade as much as we can,” he said.
“But, you never say ‘never’. I really do enjoy it.
“If Wade doesn’t go overseas, I’m probably still – if wanted – coaching Colac.
“Whether I go and help out wherever. Or, if someone needs a hand for whatever it may be, I’m always willing to help.
“At this stage, it’ll be a bit of a break, and we’ll see what happens in the future.”
X: @krockfootball
