A new voice and a fresh set of ideas is needed for Albion to take the next step, according to current coach Aaron Tymms.
Tymms has advised the Cats’ committee he will step down from the coaching position at the end of this WRFL division 1 season after three productive years in charge.
The club champion was called on to help rescue the Cats at a time of need but now believes he has done all he can.
He feels it is the right time to pass the baton to a successor, who can take the Cats back to the finals.
“I took it on when we were in a bit of strife, so I think I’ve done my bit and got them out of a hole,” Tymms told Star Weekly.
“The club’s in a good financial position now and I think I’ve put in a solid base for them to work from.
“I took the job with no coaching experience and I’ve learned a lot, but I think they need someone with experience to polish it off.”
Albion has four games left in the Tymms era. They are still a mathematical chance to play finals but the odds are against them.
Tymms has virtually conceded that September is out of reach, but the last four matches still present great learning opportunities for the Cats.
“We’re playing better footy now than we were eight weeks ago,” Tymms said.
“We’re happy that we’re building a platform they can work off for next year.”
No matter how the remaining four games pan out, Albion’s 2016 season will always be remembered for their upset of three-time defending premiers Deer Park in round three.
But Tymms feels as though his team has improved since that day, even if the victories have not followed.
“I know we beat Deer Park early, which is one of the best games I’ve seen us play, but I think we got them on a day when they were napping,” Tymms said. “After that, we played some really horrible football, although the last month has been fantastic.
“The way we’ve been going about our footy has been better and the guys seem to be enjoying themselves with the pressure off our shoulders. We’re not thinking about finals or anything like that any more.”
Albion lost to finals-bound Werribee Districts by 32 points at Parsons Reserve on Saturday. Todd Finco booted five for the Cats.
Tymms insisted the scoreboard did not do justice to the Cats.
“I don’t think the score was a true indication of how close the game was,” Tymms said. “We had our chances, there’s no doubt about that.”
Albion was down to 17 men after defender Josh McPherson was red-carded for striking.
McPherson had an enthralling battle with Tigers small forward Andrew Panayi but spoiled his game with a 50-metre penalty that resulted in a goal, a send off and an automatic two-week suspension.
“I thought Josh McPherson did a really good job even though [Panayi] kicked five goals,” Tymms said. “Then he had a brain snap.”
