West Gambier has announced its new leader for the 2022 season after a long, but precise process.
Due to the retirement of current coach Steven Wenman, the Roos were searching for someone outside of Malseed Park to take the team into a new direction.
The man given the assignment is former West 2010-11 premiership player Daron McElroy. Although McElroy has been a Roo boy before, he has plenty of experience outside of the Western Border world.
Before his stint at West he received his first taste of A Grade football as a Senior Colt at Kongorong.
After taking his game to new heights at Malseed Park, McElroy ventured south to the Bay where he remained for the rest of the decade.
The tall operator rose up the ranks to become one of the premier players of the Mid South Eastern Football League.
In 2019 he was awarded with the Mail Medal as the league best and fairest which sat nicely alongside all of his individual accolades at the Bay.
This year McElroy was handed with the responsibility of captaincy of a Port MacDonnell team boasting the likes of Kev Thomson, Dylan Bromley and Simon Merrett.
The big man thrived in the spotlight to guide the Demons to a stunning MSEFL premiership over flag favourite Kalangadoo. McElroy hopes to carry this winning momentum into 2022 with the Roos and rekindle the success he had as a youngster at Malseed Park.
Speaking to the SE Voice earlier this year after announcing his retirement, Wenman said the club was keen to bring someone from the outer to introduce a unique perspective.
“We want a new coach to come in with new ideas and give the club the freshen up it needs,” he said.
“With myself, Brad Wilson and David Stratman we have had internal coaches since 2013.
“So the plan is to get someone from outside of the group to bring fresh ideas and a new game plan.
“It will get the club going with a bit of excitement and the boys are looking forward to a bit of a welcome change.”
McElroy takes over from Wenman at an interesting time after West fell short of finals in 2021.
Despite the disappointment there was still plenty of promise shown from Malseed Park with Lawry Bradley-Brown maintaining his star status, while many youngsters also proved their worth.
The side’s quality was there for all to see when the Roos skipped past finalist North Gambier in the final round.
However, with the departures of retirement of Wenman, Todd Lewis and possibly others, McElroy must negotiate a transition phase first before improving the club’s consistency and bringing it back to the heights of 2019.
