St Mary’s co-coach Glenn Keast says managing the playing group through the difficulties of the COVID-19 pandemic ranks as one of the most satisfying achievements of his time at the helm.
Keast’s six year partnership with fellow coach Travis Robertson has delivered the Saints flags in 2019 and 2022, and the club is on track for a third after finishing the 2023 home-and-away season atop the GFNL ladder.
Robertson will move on after the current finals series, with Keast planning to see out the final year of his contract alongside a new co-coach.
He says he and “Robbo” felt it was important to help their young charges through the pandemic.
“We all know (COVID-19) was pretty challenging from a footy club persepective,” Keast told Geelong Broadcasters.
“Young men in their early 20s being confined to their households was really difficult. I think back to that time in my life and you were out enjoying your best life, and to have a lot of that taken away from them for a few years was really challenging.
“That’s one of the things, even withstanding premierships and success and things like that, guiding those young men through that journey was something that we’re pretty proud of.”
Keast said that coaching a dynamic young group of footballers was about much more than football.
“You don’t get into coaching to be succesful, you do it because you want to give back and see young men on their journey .. and see them be succesful in life. COVID really took that back to its core and we were there to suport them through that.”
Keast said he does not believe the imminent end of his “dynamic duo” partnership with Robertson will impact on his players as they strive for another GFNL premiership.
“Once they take the ground they’re not really thinking about us too much,” he said.
“Like everything in life our journey will come to an end, but the show will go on. (But) for now we’re really excited about this next four weeks and going out on a high.”
After securing the minor premiership St Mary’s will enjoy a weekend off while Colac battles South Barwon in the first qualifying final, and Leopold takes on Newtown & Chilwell in a cut-throat elimination match.
St Mary’s then takes on the winner of the Colac-South Barwon clash in week two of the finals.
