Tara Murray
Albion has announced a new coach for next year’s Western Region Football League season.
Having finished the division 2 season, the Cats announced on social media this week that Blake Richards would coach the side next season.
For Richards, it’s a return to the club where he started his football career. Richards played more than 300 games for the club.
“Blake was a junior player at Albion Football Club from the age of six to 16 when he moved to Sunshine FC due to Albion not having an under-16s side,” the post said.
“Upon his return to the club at the age of 21 he continued as an Albion player for another decade, which included a premiership in 2020
“A year off in retirement, Blake moved across to Caroline Springs where he played and coached for six years throughout that time coached the Caroline Springs reserves 2018 grand final and 2019 semi final.
“Blake brings a wealth of experience and knowledge back to Albion and is looking forward to getting stuck into pre-season.”
Kayne Taylor and Matty Davis have been named assistant coaches.
Taylor has coaching experience at Caroline Springs, the Western Jets and interleague, while Davis played about 380 games for Albion and captained the club between 2012 and 2014.
Richards replaces James Doherty who was first appointed to the role in 2020 after the side went winless in 2019.
The Cats returned to the winners list in 2021 after more than 1000 days without a win. This year they won six wins and were in the finals mix until late in the piece.
Doherty said on the Facebook post, that he wished all the best to Richards and the club into the future.
The division 2 finals series gets underway on the weekend.
Point Cook Centrals will play Parkside for a spot in the grand final, while North Footscray will play Wyndhmvale in a knock out semi final.
