The man tasked with the toughest coaching role in the region says he “was naturally drawn to the challenge” of getting Lara back to where it needs to be.
The Cats have appointed former Belmont Lions co-coach Andy Walsgott to the position on a three-year deal in a key move as it plots its return to senior football in 2028.
After spending this year in recess due to a lack of numbers, Lara had signaled its intention to return to GFNL action in 2027, before AFL Barwon rejected that plan late last month.
Walsgott, who spent four years in charge at the GDFNL club alongside Brent Vermeulen and took the Lions to the 2024 grand final, says the Cats began discussions in early October with a couple of key questions.
“Why are you wanting to do this? Why are you taking on one of the biggest challenges in local footy?” Walsgott recalled.
“Initially it started with a chat, and I was happy to go out – and I like to live by this a little bit, is to say yes to at least having a chat to everyone and see what the opportunity sort of lies and what they’ve got to say.
“And then it organically happened.
“I just found myself over the next three, four, five days after I met with them, and heard what they had to say and got a feel for how much they really wanted to make it work, just planning it and thinking of avenues and things I could try and do and ways I could try and get the club back to where it needs to be.
“That’s where the “why” started.”
Walsgott, who played in Barwon Heads’ drought-breaking 2019 Bellarine premiership, also had to work out whether he was the right fit for a club trying to get back on its feet.
“If I didn’t think I could do it or I didn’t think I was the right person for the job, then yeah, I wouldn’t have taken it,” he said.
“I think I’m someone who has values at the forefront and has a desire to have connection and trust and relationships and all the things I think are important in bringing people together.
“And that’s what I do for a living and what I know was successful at Belmont.
“The great Heath Jamieson said a couple of months ago that it isn’t rocket science.
“Get enough good people pulling in the right direction, build a team from our one pointers, and bring people in around that; then you can start to see some success happening.”
Well aware of the challenge, Walsgott, 32, says he will only worry about what he can control.
“The goalposts will be set by the powers that be, and we’ll just start kicking towards them when they land,” he said.
“Starting with juniors, starting with getting to know the people out in Lara and the people involved with the club… just control those things.
“I think the people and where I’m going to fit in and what I need to do, and then targeting the juniors and making sure that I’m a presence with them, keeping them connected and valued and at the club.
“Retention of those that had committed and then trying to bring people on board, that will certainly come. And that is one of the biggest KPIs.
“I don’t want to launch into it without having every single duck in a row because we need to be all pulling in the same direction.
“Then we can start presenting that to people who are going to come on board in 2028.”
Lara has told K rock Football that it intends to field a team in what will be an official Thirds competition next year.
While Walsgott won’t coach that team, he will have some oversight.
“I’ll certainly be involved in some aspect of that,” he said.
“But also wanting to make my presence felt and be contributing to the junior space will be a priority amongst building a list for 2028.
“I’m really keen to get developing those under 18s and have strong relationships with them.
“One-pointers are the backbone of every club, and then you can bring in pieces around that.
“You look at all the best sides that have won premierships in the GFL, BFL over the last few years; it certainly started with their one-pointers.”
X: @krockfootball
