Tara Murray
New Werribee men’s hockey coach Brendan Denning returned to coaching in a temporary role last season and soon found that the coaching bug had returned.
So when Werribee found out he had the desire to coach at the highest level he could, things quickly fell into place.
Denning said he was excited to get back into coaching on a full time basis with the Vic league 1 side.
“I only got back into coaching last year after a long time,” he said. “I have three boys and none of them are big on hockey.
“I was coaching them in their chosen sports, cricket and soccer. I ended up in a maternity role at Hawthorn last year, a premier league club, and had a really enjoyable year.
“I got bitten by the bug and wanted to coach at the highest level possible.”
Denning has plenty of coaching experience both in Victoria and in Western Australia, where he is originally from.
He’s been involved in coaching state teams and premier league sides in both states.
Denning said his knowledge of Werribee isn’t great just yet, but knows it’s about to become his second home.
“It’s a blank canvas for me,” he said. “I know some people who play at Werribee and there’s other people I’ve never seen before.
“I see that as a positive for me. I get to know who they all are and see where it takes us.
“I’m getting my head around everything, it’s been a bit of a change.”
Denning said there had been some changes to the squad like there is every year. He said the departure of goalkeeper and Victorian under-18 goalkeeper Callum Bridge, was the biggest one.
He has joined a premier league side with aspirations to play at a higher level.
Denning said it is a little bit challenging attracting players to Werribee.
He said the club needs to find where it sits in the landscape. He said what they want to achieve this season will come later in the process, but said Werribee people are expecting to play finals.
“We need to find our niche and where we want to be in the hockey landscape,” he said.
“Do we want to be a premier league team, fantastic. Or do we want to be a Vic league side, that’s great.
“We need to work together. The next 12 to 24 months will be really important with four teams dropping down from the premier league.”
The Tigers spent the weekend away at a pre-season camp in Anglesea, giving the side the opportunity to bond and gel together.
Speaking before the camp, Denning said he had been looking forward to the time away with the group.
