COACH QUITS

THE Bendigo Football League’s premiership coach of 2009, Golden Square’s Mark Adamson, has stood down.Just 18 days after leading the Bulldogs to their first premiership since 2001, Adamson informed the club on Wednesday night he won’t be continuing in the role next year, citing work and family commitments.It’s the first time the BFL’s reigning premier club will have a new coach the following year since Maryborough’s Neville Massina departed the Magpies after guiding their 1999 flag.“I’ve just been away for a week with my wife overseas in Thailand and had a look at the whole family situation with the kids getting older and starting to play sport, as well as my work commitments,’’ Adamson said yesterday.“And I guess I achieved what I aimed to achieve out of footy, and this probably looks like I’m passing up a good opportunity, but those family and work things have taken precedent and I’ve taken that hard decision to let it go and put some time and effort into those other things.’’Adamson has four children, while he is the north central Victoria regional manager for federal government organisation Commonwealth Rehabilitation Services.“I cover Wangaratta to Bendigo, so I do a fair bit of travelling around with work and it’s a fairly heavily committed job,’’ Adamson said.“At different times this year it was a bit of a struggle to put in the time I needed to put in for footy with work conferences and meetings, so it’s just a combination of those things.“I love the footy club and all the boys and I wish them all the best and hope they can go on and win another flag.“I think they’re in a really strong position and I’m sure they will get a really good person to replace me.“I’m not really sure what the club will look to do, but I think you would be crazy if you were out there as a prospective coach and didn’t at least look at the job.’’Adamson has spent the past two years coaching the Bulldogs, while he spent 2007 as an assistant coach to Jeff Brennan after arriving at Country Vet Oval following a three-year coaching stint with Goulburn Valley Football League club Kyabram.Last year Adamson took the Bulldogs to within a kick of the premiership, losing the grand final to red-hot favourites Eaglehawk by a goal, having begun their finals campaign from the elimination final.This year, after winning 16 of their 18 home and away games, the Bulldogs breezed through the finals series, culminating in a 37-point win over South Bendigo in the grand final.After overcoming knee problems, Adamson returned to the field this year, ending the season with 40 goals from full-forward, which included four in the grand final victory, before immediately announcing his retirement as a player.“I hope that I’ve laid a good foundation for the club and for whoever comes in,’’ Adamson said.“It’s a great group of players there at the moment and I hope those guys can stick together, and I don’t see any reason why they shouldn’t have ongoing success.“There’s a good culture there that can ensure success continues, whether I’m there or not.’’Before taking on the coaching role again this year, Adamson had initially stood down after last season.However, he is adamant there will be no such backflips this time.“No, I won’t be changing my mind this time,’’ Adamson said.“Obviously, we achieved at the club what we wanted to this year and I got some level of satisfaction out of being able to walk away having done that.’’Golden Square president Rob Dupuy said the club was disappointed to lose Adamson, but not entirely shocked by his decision to step aside.“It’s disappointing, but we know we were lucky to keep him this year after he had initially pulled the pin after last season,’’ Dupuy said.“He’s done a fantastic job, but with four kids and a very responsible role with CRS . . . we’ve tried to talk him around, but at the end of the day, he’s the type of bloke who if he can’t give 100 per cent, he won’t do it.’’The Bulldogs appear blessed with a number of internal candidates who could put their hands up for the role.Nick Carter has been an assistant coach at VFL level, Jason Griffin coached the Bulldogs’ reserves this year, Mark Lloyd has been instrumental in the club’s success this year as an assistant coach, while Shawn McCormick and Dean Strauch have played pivotal roles with their input from the bench.The Bulldogs are also hotly pursuing Simon Rosa, and are the front-runners to gain the services of the former Bendigo Bombers and Peel Thunder midfielder, but Dupuy doesn’t expect Rosa to be the next coach of Golden Square.“I think with where Simon is at is he has come back to Bendigo, his wife is pregnant, and he is in the process of re-establishing his business back in Bendigo, so I don’t think the role would suit him,’’ Dupuy said.