By Marcus Uhe
From classmates, to premiership teammates, to co-coaches; the next evolution in the friendship of Hayden Stagg and Chris Johnson is set to take place at Berwick Springs next season, with the two taking over as the club’s senior coaches in 2024.
Recruited at the end of 2022 with an eye to the long-term future of the club from the committee, the two will replace Rod Benstead next season, who told the club late in the season that he would be stepping down from his current position.
“It’s a job that takes a full-on commitment and I didn’t think I could give it,” Benstead said of his decision, with an eye to spending more time with his young family in 2024.
“I felt really comfortable with Staggy and Johnno, I felt a little bit of guilt that I got them across and then was stepping aside, but when I told them, it dawned that it was a real opportunity for them.
“I’ve said from the start, they’re fantastic leaders in their own right and I’m really happy to be handing over to two fantastic people who I expect will do an amazing job.”
Johnson and Stagg first met at Beaconhills College, before teaming up at the Narre North Foxes in their junior days and later Narre Warren Football Netball Club as adults.
While the two took separate paths beyond their days shared at Kalora Park, the two were reunited as part of a deliberate recruiting approach from the Titans as they strive to forge an identity during the club’s formative years.
Both took on playing assistant roles in their first seasons at Mick Morland Reserve in what was Stagg’s first official coaching capacity, while Johnson’s teaching background gave him an early indication of what the role would entail.
“Coaching is something that I’ve always done and been interested in,” Johnson said.
“As for work, it’s something that I’m really passionate about, seeing players progress, especially the younger talent coming through.
“I was an assistant coach this year at Berwick Springs with ‘Staggy’, and the opportunity came about that Rod was moving on, and we thought that it would be a good challenge and something that we’d both be able to help build at Berwick Springs from our experience, and thought ‘why not?’.
“We have a really strong relationship and when the opportunity came up to coach and co-coach, I didn’t hesitate to share it with Hayden.
“We work really well together and always have.”
Stagg said he was thrilled to take on the role, having viewed coaching as a long-term option for him when his playing days come to a close.
“It’s been on my mind for a little bit now,” Stagg said of coaching.
“I’ve always wanted to stay involved with footy and coaching is the obvious next step after playing.
“The opportunity bobbed-up at Berwick Springs as an assistant, I didn’t think coaching would pop-up this quick but I thought it would be a great opportunity.
“I think staying a part of the club and everything and learning, you’re always learning the game of footy and teaching all the younger and older boys as well, it’s just great being a part of it all.”
Assisting the two from the sidelines will be the experienced figure of Dean Urwin, father of current Titan Brent and former assistant coach of both Stagg at Johnson at Narre Warren.
With his influence and the two’s experiences at successful programs such as Narre Warren’s, the vision for the club’s progression is clear as day.
“We have the philosophy that we want to be the club everyone wants to come and play for, but no one wants to play,” Johnson said.
“We’re more than likely going up to premier division.
“With Staggy and I’s experience, he’s had a really good career at Narre and I had a strong career at Cora Lynn, we really think that if we can merge our ideas together, not only through training really hard and being competitive, but having fun while doing so, I think we’re going to go quite well.”
But before their tenure can begin, one thing remains on the to-do list for 2023; send “Beanie”, the club’s ‘heart and soul’ out on the best possible note, with a premiership on Sunday.
“I don’t think he gets enough recognition from everyone,” Stagg said of his coach.
“To get the club from where it was to now, he should be so proud of himself.
“He gives you tingles down the spine every time he talks, pregame or during the game.
“The first flag for the club, it’s something that doesn’t happen in a short frame of time.
“It would be the best way as a coach for him to go out.”
Johnson agreed.
“To get that grand final win would not only mean a lot to us, but the club would really pay back all the hard work he’s done,” he said.
“Even through the recruiting process last year when we met ‘Beanie’, he’s a very likeable guy. You can tell he’s the heart and soul of the club.
“That’ll give us a lot of motivation this week.”
