Senior Rutherglen football coach last season, Steve Owen, will be non-playing coach of Corowa Rutherglen for the next two seasons.
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“I feel very privileged to be given the opportunity to be the senior coach of the Corowa-Rutherglen Football Club,” the 35-year-old told The Free Press.
“Everyone has been very welcoming, and I am looking forward to season 2023.”
The much-decorated Owen has plenty of coaching experience. A bad knee injury stopped an AFL career at Geelong after being drafted in 2005 at number 35.
His outstanding playing career at Queenscliff resulted in him being the centre-half-back in the 2010-2019 Bellarine Football League (BFL) Team of the Decade, a four-time BFL Team of the Year player 2011-2014, a three-time 2011-2013 premiership player and a dual best and fairest winner. Beforehand, he played VFL with North Ballarat in 2008.
Last year, Owen was Rutherglen’s senior coach after being assistant coach in 2020 and 2021. From 2011-2015 he was playing assistant coach and playing/non-playing senior co-coach at Queenscliff Football Club.
The coaching at North Ballarat, by Gerard Fitzgerald and at Queenscliff by Tom Limb had a big impact on Owen.
“ ‘Fitzy’ was the coach I learned the most from as a footballer and who I have shaped my coaching style on,” Owen said.
“With his teaching background, he was big on getting the processes right and developing the person, not just the footballer.
“Tom and I played together under Gerard Fitzgerald at North Ballarat in 2008 and we share similar coaching philosophies. We formed a great friendship off the field and Tom was the one who introduced me to the coaching world and challenged me to improve.”
Since the end of last season, the Roos have lost 23 players from the seniors and reserves and the club’s facilities and ground were drenched with floodwaters.
The signing of Steve Owen just before Christmas has been described as been described as a great Christmas present for the Roos.
“Having 23 players leave a club is never ideal, but with a large portion of those players leaving to challenge themselves at a higher level, I see that as a real compliment for the club that they have played a part in those players’ development,” Owen said.
“I knew this was the situation when I agreed to take on this role and the club and I have a plan in place to offset this.
“These departures create real opportunities for players in the region who want the opportunity to play O & M football. As a football department we are confident of putting together a really strong list for season 2023.”
All six members of Corowa-Rutherglen’s coach selection panel were in total agreement with the selection of Steve Owen.
“It took a while but we got our man,” panel member and versatile senior footballer Jason Marks told The Free Press.
“We’re very happy. We got a good one. He was one of the first persons we contacted back in August (when Peter German advised the club he was stepping down).
“At that time Steve was very interested but with his work commitments he couldn’t commit to the role.
“After we reposted the coaching position on Facebook his work commitments had changed to allow him sufficient time to coach.”
Marks described Owen as an innovative, young coach who is a very good communicator which the club considers very important in this role.
“Steve’s innovative, an engaging coach who is able to communicate and form relationships with the younger players – he’s a modern coach,” Marks said.
The comment was backed up by former Yarrawonga and Geelong premiership star Tom Lonergan. “Steve’s a good bloke and I wish him all the best at Corowa,” Lonergan said.
“We’re very happy to have him,” Corowa Rutherglen Football Netball Club President Graham Hosier commented about Owen’s appointment. “It’s a great Christmas present for everyone, for all our supporters.”
New Corowa football coach Steve Owen will take charge at John Foord Oval.
The Roos are currently speaking with a few potential recruits. “Things are progressing well. We hope to announce a few in the coming weeks,” Owen said.
“Joe Hansen (captain) and the football department have done a terrific job taking training pre-Christmas and I look forward to taking the reins when the group returns in early January.”
The new coach’s first priority is building positive relationships with all the players, staff and supporters, and setting standards and expectations for the upcoming season.
“Coaching-wise my aim is to continue to teach and develop each and every player every week,” Owen said.
“I knew a handful of people involved in the club prior to coming on board and have met quite a few people since moving to the area and through relatives in the area.”
The Regional Manager (North East) - GAME Traffic & Contracting has a very supportive partner Belinda and a 9-month old daughter Adeline and has a message for footballers.
“I’d just like to extend the invite to any footballer, young or experienced, that is thinking of giving O&M football a crack, come down to training or give me a call and I will happily provide you the opportunity to test yourself at this level,” the coach said.
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