Max Rooke will return to the Cattery in 2025, in a new-look football coaching line-up at Casterton Sandford.


The two-time Geelong premiership player was appointed as gameday coach for the 2025 Limestone Coast Football Netball League season, along with confirmation of the rest of the coaching panel, including the 2025 Reserves leadership.


Head of the Cats’ football department Dean Munro said after spending time in Otways football at Colac, Rooke was keen to return to his first club, building on the supporting role he played with the Cats prior to the COVID pandemic.


“Max helped us behind the scenes for a couple of seasons, did a fair bit of work with (former senior coach, Kane Forbes), helped with leadership stuff with the younger players,” Munro said.


“We have stayed in contact with him and with his dad, John, still in our footy department, we went to him hoping this might be the year for him to come back and help us build what we have … he’s put his hand up, said he’d like to get involved.”


As gameday coach, Rooke will be directing play from the bench, addressing players at the breaks and general decision making over the four quarters, allowing playing coach Jarrod O’Brien to concentrate more on his own game.


“Max will coach from the bench on the day … it’s hard to coach when you’re trying to concentrate on playing your own game, keeping track of and co-ordinating rotations, position changes, so Max will run things from the sidelines,” Munro said.


“Obviously he’s a big character, he’s got a big presence, he does not talk for the sake of talking and you need that with the younger guys, they respect that.


“He’s been a development coach at Geelong, the Gold Coast, Melbourne … he knows what’s needed and how to bring the team up to speed in modern football.


“It’s exciting for the club to have not just a two-time AFL premiership player … but a local one who is (familiar with) the club, back on board.


“It’s been a slow build coming off the back of COVID, we got a few wins in 2022 and 2023 with Kane, this season probably was not what we expected or hoped it would be … we’re confident with what we have got now, the coaching team … we can really build that momentum and some success next year.”


In addition to Rooke, Forbes will join the bench coaching team in 2025, with Matthew Murphy reprising his 2024 runner’s role, supporting the coaching staff.


After assisting Reserves coach Justin Carlin this season, Mason Hunter has stepped-up to lead the Ressies in 2025, with Matt Mutch taking on the assistant’s role.


“Both of these fellas are relatively new to the club, but they have stepped up and really been great outstanding for us,” Munro said.


“Mason was Justin’s assistant last year … a great leader in that role … Matt’s thrown himself into everything at the club on and off the field … helping out with the juniors, steps behind the bar in the clubrooms when they need a hand and he could not come to the coaches’ meeting on Sunday because he had a commitment to doing the runner’s job with the women’s team.


“And they’re both young fellas; the profile of the Reserves competition has changed over the years and we need the Ressies to have greater depth, a greater presence in the club and these guys will help bring that.”


Munro said in addition to naming the coaching team, the Cats had secured commitment from the majority of the 2024 senior squad, with several additional, “exciting” announcement expected in coming weeks.


“We have got Diarmid Cleary back in the role of captain for 2025, we have got (former club president and senior coach) Dyl Ayton having another crack, he’s been driving some early training,” Munro said.


“Cal Currie is stepping down from the assistant’s role to concentrate on his game, but he’s committed to being with us again next year.


“We have got fellas like Al McCrae, he approached us before he went on holidays to get back on board … we had him re-signed before the end of the year.


“The only one it looks like we will not have, at this stage is Harold Pritchard, who was our only traveller, this year.


“And there’s a bit of exciting news coming up, definitely some stuff on the horizon with recruiting.”


Nick Schembri will again take on the coaching role with the Cats’ Under 17.5 side, with an assistant for him expected to be appointed, in the near future.


The junior coaches team will be appointed, following the establishment of a new junior football committee, to be headed-up by Tim Rhook.