Rice takes on top job

By Justin Robertson
WHEN Dean Rice built his house in Berwick three years ago, never in his wildest dreams did he think he’d take up the helm at Edwin Flack Reserve.
The newly appointed head coach of the Berwick Football Club for the 2011 season is eager to start developing the young crop of players and talent that awaits him.
“It’s always a little bit easier to mould and nurture young kids to the style you want to play,” he said. “When you do get to a certain age you do get stuck in your ways a bit and it’s always hard to change that, but young kids coming through are more likely to listen and learn.”
Standing in the outer with Berwick’s outgoing senior coach Glenn Dale during this year’s Peninsula grand final the idea of coaching was floated to Rice.
“He mentioned that the role had become available and I thought about it and was pretty keen to get back into footy and thought it was a good fit, seeing as it’s only a couple of minutes down the road,” he said. “I knew that the club was back on the rise again with their youth and just thought it was a perfect time.”
Rice coached Wonthaggi to a grand final against Maffra in 2004 during his two-year stint in the old Latrobe Valley league and the Carlton premiership player said his time there was challenging.
“It took me an hour and a half to get there for training and games – sometimes longer when we played teams like Sale and Maffra,” he said. “I enjoyed my time there and it was great that I had a bunch of committed guys.”
While the pre-season dates are still being co-ordinated Rice will make his first official appearance at the club on 15th November at the welcome the coach night, an introductory evening where players, officials and club members will attend.
“Coming into a grassroots club you have to be patient. It’s just a matter of us to take ownership of what we are trying to do – but that will take some time,” he said. “There will be plenty of challenges along the way for the guys – family, working life, other priorities – footy probably comes third or fourth, so it’s making sure they’re committed and they’re sacrificing to a certain point to achieve what we want to achieve.”
Berwick Football Club president Cliff Donegan is rapt with the club attracting the former VFL utility.
“We had a lot of very good candidates and we felt he was the best,” he said. “We thought he would ignite a bit of enthusiasm around the place and he’s also prepared to work with young people and pass on his experience onto all the young blokes.”
As the Berwick Football Club looks to move forward with their young crop of players, Donegan said that Rice would be able to pass on his experience and teach them that they could be long term players for the club.
“We reckon he’s prepared to put a lot of work into the youth and that’s what we want,” Donegan said.