GOTCHA

by KC from Casey

While the spotlight during the week has been on the AFL trading, the Casey Scorpions have moved quickly to appoint VFA/VFL premiership coach Brad Gotch as the replacement for Peter German who defected to Williamstown not long after season's end.

The appointment not only means that the Scorpions and the Seagulls have switched coaches but it also reunites Gotch with the club he successfully coached to a flag more than a decade ago.

The Gotch name has been around football at the highest level for more than five decades. Graham Gotch was a solid defender who played 52 games with Fitzroy from 1956-1960. Son Brad (born 23 June 1962) played 43 games and kicked 60 goals as a rover for the Lions from 1982-85 before briefly switching to SANFL club Port Adelaide in 1986. Halfway through that season he was snapped up by St. Kilda where the diminutive Gotch (166 cm 63 kg) added 53 more games and 62 goals to his resume. Despite his size he was always a handful for opposition sides and his left foot passing was deadly. His best goal haul with the Saints was seven against his old club.

Gotch then moved on to the VFA where he played for the now defunct Dandenong Football Club in last premiership in 1991. He successfully coached the Springvale Scorpions to the club's 1996 VFL premiership and left the Scorpions, who have subsequently moved to Casey Fields, at the end of the 1997 season.

Gotch worked in development roles with Collingwood and took up the coaching mantle with the Magpies' then VFL affiliate Williamstown in 2002. A year later, he was a premiership coach again when his team beat Tony Liberatore's Hawks in the grand final. His coaching that day earned him praise from the pundits including Phil Cleary who described him as a "master coach". In his time, Gotch coached many members of Collingwood's 2009 finals team including prolific ball winner Dane Swan.

When the Magpies decided to go out on their own in the VFL, the Western Bulldogs took on the alignment and Gotch retained the coaching position as well as the new role of the AFL club's Development Manager. By the end of the 2009 season he was the second-longest serving coach in Williamstown's history having also coached the club to finals in six of his eight seasons.

Following his recent appointment Gotch said, "It's great to remain in the VFL competition, and I'm really excited by the opportunity that presents itself with the Casey Scorpions. The team has a lot of young talent, which I am looking forward to developing over my tenure as coach."

Scorpions General Manager, Brian Woodman, said, "Brad Gotch has had significant experience under Mick Malthouse and also Rodney Eade, it will be of great benefit to the Casey Scorpions and the Melbourne Football Club. We know that he will be a great coach in supporting the development of our playing list."

"We are excited about the alignment and the experience that Brad Gotch will bring to our club will provide the support our young players need to grow with the game."

Melbourne's General Manager of Football, Chris Connolly, had a major input in the selection process. He said,

"Brad has a significant amount of experience that will be of great benefit to the Casey Scorpions and the Melbourne Football Club. Having an experienced coach was a high priority for us and Brad is the perfect candidate to set the standards for future success."

This makes it four coaches in four seasons down at Casey Fields but, given his experience and expertise, it is expected that the Scorpions will have a long and prosperous period of stability with Gotch at the helm of the club.

www.twitter.com/DemonsHQ (Official Demons Twitter):

Brad Gotch announced as Casey Coach, exciting times ahead http://www.melbournefc.com.au/news/newsart...62/default.aspx