The gameplan is about to change at Beaconsfield after the Eagles announced that Mick Fogarty has stepped down as its senior coach just weeks after being reappointed.
The Eastern Football Netball League Division 1 club made the announcement last Friday, just two weeks after initially re-signing him for 2026.
Fogarty had overwhelming support from the club to continue the role into next season but ultimately came to the realisation he couldn’t commit for another year.
“My time’s up,” Fogarty said.
“I’ve had a great run; I came to the realisation last week that I’m doing it for all the wrong reasons.
“I signed on probably being selfish.
“It’s a decision I should have made two weeks ago because my time’s up.
“Beaconsfield has been a wonderful club for me, they gave me a wonderful opportunity and I’m so thankful for them.
“They supported me and the players were awesome.
“I couldn’t be more thankful for the club and they need a coach to come in who’s energised and can take this young group to where I know they can get to.
“I think they have a positive future with the people they’ve got.”
Across a senior coaching career spanning more than 30 years, Fogarty has won four senior premierships – two at ROC (now Officer) and two at Noble Park.
He was well positioned to contend for one at the Eagles in 2021 when they were undefeated in the Outer East Football Netball League before the pandemic wiped out the second portion of the season.
“Developing players and making them better people has been a real highlight,” Fogarty said.
“There’s so much more to life than just footy and success comes from seeing those guys develop and enjoy their footy.”
Asked if he could see himself coaching again, Fogarty said: “You can never say never but I think so.
“I’ve had 30 years at it and I’m tired…I’d say I’m done.
“We can’t wait to see what the future holds without footy.”
The outgoing coach was at the helm when Beaconsfield transitioned from being a powerhouse in the Outer East Football Netball League to adapting quickly to the higher standard of Eastern Football Netball League’s Division 1 competition.
The Eagles made the finals in just their second season following the move, which has set the club up well for the future.
Fogarty will have no involvement with Beaconsfield next season, providing the incoming coach with the floor.
Beaconsfield president Troy Robinson paid tribute to the long time mentor.
“He’s been exactly what our club needed to get us where we are and set us up for the next steps as well,” Robinson said.
“Mick has had a fantastic ability to identify talent.
“His ability to give players opportunities and feedback around what they need to do to be a consistent footballer; his ability to identify youth is brilliant.
“We’re one of the lowest player points on the competition which is a testament to Mick’s coaching identification of talent.”
Beaconsfield will now begin the process of finding a new senior coach and has already received some interest.
“You can’t replicate a Mick, nor do we want to, but having someone who can identify junior talent, create opportunity, provide leadership and mentorship is really important,” Robinson said.
“We want someone who has coached at a high standard.
“A premier division coach would be fantastic.
“Someone who has coached or played at a high level is really important.
“We’re definitely not interested in a playing coach; it has to be a coach working for the senior football team.”
