The Upper Ferntree Gully Football Netball Club are extremely pleased and excited to announce that Mark Fisher has been appointed as Senior Coach for the 2023 season.
A Level 3 High Performance Coach since 2012 ‘Fish’ has an impressive resume in developing young footballers during his time at Eastern Ranges between 2009 and 2018 which included Defensive and Midfield Assistant Coaching roles for the U18’s as well as being Head Coach of the U16’s in 2011. He also became Forward Line Assistant Coach of Vic Metro U16’s in 2011 before taking on the Vic Metro U16’s Head Coach Role from 2012-2014. On top of these roles from 2013 until 2022 he was Senior Assistant Coach at the Rowville Sports Academy under Darren Bewick.
In 2015 ‘Fish’ took on a senior role as Midfield Coach with Essendon’s VFL side who were ranked the #1 clearance side of the year. Then in 2018 he became Senior Coach of Mt Evelyn in the AFL Outer East Competition stepping down at the start of 2022.
When asked the reason for accepting the Upper Gully Senior Coaching Role, ‘Fish’ responded with “After presenting my vision, game plan, culture template and general football philosophy to the club during the interview process and listening to the clubs needs with the current playing group it became very clear to me that UFTG was the club I wanted to coach in 2023. Thankfully the club after a thorough process offered me the Senior Coaching role. It just seemed to be a perfect fit”
When questioned where the club currently sits he remarked “I am under no illusions that the task ahead will be a huge challenge for all of us. The club has gone back to 2nd Division after not winning a game in 2022. As a club we need to embrace the challenge ahead and work together as one”
As far as the future goes ‘Fish’ believes “A young group that is driven to be the best they can be on and off the field will create their own standards, and if we drive hard enough and fully commit to change and embrace a different way to see and play the game then those standards should be at a very high level. Then you will see what local football should be about, a place where people want to be, enjoying a Saturday afternoon watching your team compete and having big crowds back supporting our club”
What about a final message to the supporters “I look forward to meeting everybody within the club and can’t thank the committee enough for giving me the opportunity to work alongside them to make Upper Gully the place where you want to spend your Saturday afternoon”