SWFL: Returning Harvey-Brunswick-Leschenault coach John Baggetta says he never closed the door on coaching

Incoming Harvey-Brunswick-Leschenault coach John Baggetta says he was unsure if an opportunity for him to rejoin the league’s coaching ranks would ever arise, but he had always remained open to the possibility. The three-time premiership-winning mentor, who headed up the Lions’ unbeaten season in 2019 and achieved the same feat with Carey Park in 2009, was announced as the Lions’ new league coach on Sunday. He replaces Derek Hall, who left the role earlier this month in order to spend more time with family and monitor his son Clay’s career at AFL level. Baggetta has stayed involved with the league since departing the Lions, forming part of the coaching staff for the South West’s Country Championships side and working in commentary with SEN. He said his association with the Lions had not been completely cut when he stepped down from coaching the club, which made the process of moving back into their top job easy. “You never say never . . . times come and go pretty quick,” Baggetta said. “I was involved in the commentating side of things so I still had my hand in, watching a lot of football. My young bloke (Jordan) plays out there, so I was always out there watching him. “It all happened pretty quick . . . it was all within a few days (of Hall standing down).” After finishing third but exiting the finals in straight sets last season, HBL sit 10th on the ladder heading into round four, with their four-point win over local rivals Harvey Bulls in their season opener backed up by losses to Bunbury and Busselton. Baggetta said he would not set any short-term targets until he got a “good look” at his side over the next couple of weeks. “At our level, it changes pretty quick,” he said. “It’s about tweaking a few things and getting the message right and getting guys to buy in. “There’s a lot of water to go under the bridge for this year. There’s a few things we want to get right. “Whether we’ll be playing finals, you can only tell as you get closer to the back end. You’ve got to aim for something and it’s definitely an aim, but at the same time, you’ve got to be realistic about where you sit.” Baggetta will re-enter the competition as its most experienced coach, having first taken charge of the Panthers in 2008. He said working with players now required a vastly different skill set to when he made his first forays into coaching. “The playing groups are getting a lot younger these days, a lot more inexperienced, so you’re dealing with a different kettle of fish,” Baggetta said. “The commitment side of things isn’t anywhere near as strong as what it used to be. Being from the old school, you do get frustrated at some of the commitment things and what it takes to be that successful and trying to get that message across. “We’ll just take it on and see what we can do.” Baggetta will take charge of the Lions for the first time in his second stint when they head to Collie Recreation Ground to take on the Eagles on Saturday.