It's said that most good things must come to an end, and unfortunately that is the case for the 2019 coaching duo of Emmaus St Leo’s women’s team. For the last two years, Roy Fenton has been captaining the ship as head coach of the affectionately named Animalettes, and in their second season, Brendan Ellwood jumped aboard as his assistant. But due to a busy schedule, Ellwood, who started his Animals career as women’s team manager in 2018 before elevating his position in 2019, is sadly passing on the baton.
But it’s also said that when one door closes, another door opens, and fortunately that is the case for Emmaus St Leo’s very own head of communications, Geoff Koop. For the last two years, he’s been keeping the Animals faithful updated on all things blue and blue but in 2020, his role is set to change. To that of assistant coach for the Animalettes. And he couldn’t be more excited.
As for what attracted Koop to the role, he states his work with two of Emmaus St Leo’s women’s team constants in Bridget Monaghan and Maddy Hogan, specifically in the ruck during the year, plus his experience in coaching the Animalettes for one game during the season sets him in good stead for the year to come.
‘Seeing the fantastic results there sparked in me a desire to coach I didn’t know existed.’
He also names working with a coach like “Feno” as a big draw card to the role of assistant coach.
‘This is a guy who has been involved in the game for 50 years now. He’s watched the game evolve to where it is now, and to draw off the experience is just invaluable for someone like me just entering this facet of the game.’
Specifically in 2019, Koop was well-known for letting his passion show, much to the amusement of those around him and it’s this side of him that he believes bodes well paired with Fenton’s cool and calm demeanour.
‘I think it will help bring the best out of everyone in the team.’
Fenton, who’s never been a man of many words and enjoys keeping it simple;
‘loves coaching the girls, loves what he does, and loves the club’, and admits that he ‘gets on well with Geoff, loves his enthusiasm’ and believes that he and Koop can bounce some great ideas off of each other.
The 2020 season will be Fenton’s 50th year involved with the sport, with coaching being just one of the many hats he’s worn throughout his footy career and maintaining that he’s ‘not finished yet’.
Shellby Lonie, breakout star and eventual Best and Fairest Winner of 2019, loves Koop’s contagious game-day energy, believing he has the potential to bring something exciting to the team in 2020, and looks forward to ‘seeing Geoff transition from “the media guy” to “Koopy, the assistant coach”.’ Fenton’s 50th year is also something of a highlight for Lonie, who can’t wait to help him celebrate.
Outgoing club president Alex Maunder is filled with excitement to be finally able to announce ‘current club communications guru’ Koop as Fenton’s righthand man for the 2020 season, lauding his commitment to the club.
‘Geoff has been a vocal supporter of all things Animals, but his commitment to seeing the women’s team develop saw him take on an unofficial mentor role and it’s awesome to see him make this official for next season.’
Maunder also can’t speak more highly of Fenton himself, with the head coach’s ‘positivity and ability to keep morale high’ despite a challenging year with injuries, impressing him the most this season.
‘Roy has truly ingratiated himself in the club and we are excited that this will continue in season 2020.’
On a sadder note, he also thanks Ellwood for his hard work, intensity and passion, and contributions to the women’s footy program. In some capacity, his love for the club and the women’s team means he’ll still be contributing in any way he can.
Whilst 2020 will only be Emmaus St Leo’s women’s team’s third year, Koop is looking to go one further than their first two years, with an immediate goal for him being seeing if his charges can break the 5-win marker, though he laments that a flag should always be the long-term aim.
‘I honestly believe that when we have everyone we possibly can on the park, we are a very dangerous side. We’ve already got some new players for 2020 who have shown a lot of potential for the season.’
For Koop, having one foot in the door and one foot out since the Animalettes’ debut, he’s just excited to play a part in helping them take the next step, whether it’s working with the second and third year players or assisting the new players gain confidence in their skills. The last two years have set a solid foundation for Emmaus St Leo’s women’s team and with a slight coaching shake up for the season to come, the Animalettes will for sure be the ones to watch. They’re building something incredibly important at Bennettswood Reserve and it’s only going to get better from here.