Hillside premiership coach Blaise Ferraro walks away from the coaching role knowing he has achieved what he set out to do at the Essendon District Football League club.
Ferraro guided the Sharks to their first women’s premiership as they won the premier division grand final last month.
The club then announced that Ferraro had made the decision to step down.
Ferraro said it was a decision he made a couple of months ago.
“I’m done and dusted,” he said. “I’ll do something different and spend a bit more time with the family.
“I decided half way through the year and let the club know. I got them to the point where I wanted to get them.
“I set out to do a job and I got them there. The premiership was a bit of personal validation.”
Ferraro said the whole female program at the Sharks was in a really good position.
The club has had two senior sides the past two years, with the reserves side making the grand final on both occasions.
He said the club was looking to have under-18s next season.
“That’s the exciting part,” Ferraro said. “It’s more about building it up and the journey than getting the flag.”
Ferraro said he thinks the club might have held off the announcement, hoping that he might change his mind.
He said no matter the outcome of the grand final he was set in what he was doing.
The Sharks managed to hold off Oak Park, which had a kick after the siren to win the match.
“It did cross my mind before that kick, that I wasn’t changing my mind,” he said.
“I think my wife might have gotten a bit scared had she kicked it. There’s a long list of things to do.”
Ferraro, who is a life member at the Sharks, said he would enjoy watching the side as a fan now.
Chris Daley has been appointed the Sharks new women’s coach.
