Ben Turner is preparing for “a very exciting challenge” after he was appointed coach of reigning Division 1 premier Greensborough.
Turner replaces outgoing coach Robert Hyde, who retired following the Boro’s drought-breaking premiership triumph in September.
After a successful stint as coach of Greensborough’s under-19s team, Turner served a one-year apprenticeship under Hyde this year, working as the senior midfield coach.
He guided the under-19s to the Grand Final in each of his six years as coach, winning three consecutive premierships between 2009 and 2011.
Now he has been handed the keys to the senior coaching position as Greensborough looks to become the first team in six years to defend a Division 1 senior premiership.
While excited by the challenge ahead, Turner admits it’s also a daunting role to take on in his first senior coaching appointment.
“If you had to pick one team that you wanted to get involved with I guess you would go with a Division 1 premiership team,” he said.
“It’s also a daunting prospect taking on a Division 1 premiership team and the team that everyone will be looking to knock off even more so than this year.
“The challenges are going to come thick and fast, but we’re excited for next year.
“It’s exciting to be entering the season as the Division 1 reigning premiers. It’s uncharted for us.”
After years of dominating the under-19 competition, Greensborough’s emerging stars made a quantum leap in the senior grade this year.
After an eighth-place finish in 2013, the Boro won 15 games in the home and away season to finish second on the ladder behind Heidelberg.
They then won three of their four finals, including a 41-point win in the premiership decider, to claim Greensborough’s first Division 1 senior premiership since 1989.
Despite his retirement as senior coach, Hyde will remain at Greensborough as the club’s Director of Coaching.
Turner said having Hyde remain on board would be great for his coaching development.
“Him staying on next year is going to be great for me because he’ll obviously provide a very strong sounding board,” he said.
“He’ll be the person looking over your shoulder, making sure everything is going all right and offering up suggestions.
“Given his experience and having been around the place for so long, it will be good to work with him.”
Turner revealed 90 per cent of Greensborough’s Grand Final team had already committed for next season, with meetings to be held with the remaining players who are currently unsigned.
Given all three teams played on the last Saturday of the season, pre-season will commence two weeks later than usual, with Turner looking towards a mid-November start.
“We’ll put in a really solid four to five week period before Christmas and then get our teeth into it after Christmas,” he said.
“We’ve had a lot of players start training already because they’re keen to continue and keen to work even harder next year.
“We’ve got guys prepared to work harder, while some of our older boys are obviously enjoying a well earned rest.
“We’re in a different position in that we’ve got everyone keen as mustard to get down to pre-season training.”
