Panmure is both excited and optimistic about its expected resurgence in 2019.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The Warrnambool and District league club has signed Chris Bant as senior football coach with Paddy Mahony his assistant, while it has also appointed Stacy Dunkley as A grade netball coach.
The triple-signing comes less than a fortnight after the end of the 2018 season, highlighting the Bulldogs’ determination to show plenty of improvement next year.
Bant, who will miss the opening two rounds next season due to suspension carried over from a three-match ban handed to him in the Hampden league this year, said he was eager to start his new role.
"I am really excited to get into it," he said.
"Obviously I have played here quite a bit in the past and I am just keen to get back and try to take the club back up the ladder.
"Just the excitement of trying to get some players back to the club, and obviously I have still got a lot of mates here that I am keen to get back and start playing with again."
The 28-year-old returns to the Bulldogs’ kennel after five seasons playing at Terang Mortlake.
The forward spent that time as an assistant coach with the Bloods and is confident that experience will help him take the next step as senior coach.
"I have had some really good coaches up there and hopefully I can take a bit out of each coach to try and bring in my own method, that's my plan at the minute,” he said.
"I think it is going to be similar to what a lot of coach's (plan) is, we'll try and attack the footy and obviously defend as hard as possible.
"We'll be an attacking side through the middle of the ground and hopefully give our forwards the best chance to get them through the big sticks."
Bant will be supported by Mahony who left South Warrnambool to also return to Panmure.
The 26-year-old midfielder said it felt good to be back in the red, white and blue.
"I have been away a little bit with the Hampden league, but it is good to be back,” he said.
“It has always been home for me at Panmure so I am looking forward to getting back into it.”
The club is also buzzing after successfully recruiting Dunkley from rival club Russells Creek.
Dunkley, a talented midcourter, joins the Panmure fresh off claiming the A grade best and fairest at her former club.
She said she was already keen to hit the court running.
"I am feeling very excited and I can't wait for the opportunity and I kind of wish it was 2019 already," she said.
"My tummy is doing somersaults , I can't believe this is actually happening.
"All of the ideas are going through my mind, but just really looking forward to it and hopefully we can get some growth."
Dunkley, who is embarking on her first role as a senior netball coach, revealed how she came to find herself taking on the Bulldogs’ top job.
She said it was not a “light decision” to leave Russells Creek, though hoped people understood and supported her seeking new opportunities.
"I think pretty much as soon as we came out in the first final with Russells Creek I got a phone call from the president here at Panmure and basically planted a seed of maybe they were interested in me giving coaching a go," she said.
"So then I had been thinking about it about it for a little while and I came around thinking why not. It sounds like a really good opportunity and something that I have always thought I would like to do."