By KEN MOORE
ELLINBANK and District Football League preliminary finalist Cora Lynn will have a massive hole to fill for next season after the departure of inspirational player-coach, and two-time reigning Alf Walton medallist, Brendan Kimber.
The San Remo resident has departed the Cobras for a side much closer to home – the Alberton Football League’s Phillip Island.
Kimber said he was seeking a change in lifestyle – with his decision heightened by the arrival last year of his first child, Evie, who is now 10-months-old.
Phillip Island – which has had its sights set on Kimber for a number of years – is in many ways a perfect fit.
Bulldogs coach Brad Sinclair has experienced Kimber’s ability and competiveness first hand – as coach of Nilma Darnum, Sinclair led the side to victory in the 2009 EDFL grand final over the Cobras. Kimber, fittingly, was voted the best player for the Cobras that day.
His role at Phillip Island is yet to be clarified but he believes the club is looking at him to take on an assistant coach role.
Kimber played close to 100 games at Narre Warren and was a member of the Magpies’ 2006 and 2007 premiership teams before joining the Cobras in 2008 – where he went on to chalk up his 100th game late this season. He took on the Cora Lynn coaching role in 2009 when premiership coach Chris Toner left to rejoin his former club, Narre Warren.
Kimber described his first year at the ‘Cobradome’ as the most frustrating and bittersweet.
“In 2008 in my first year at the club I did my collarbone twice and missed the grand final, which we won,” he said.
Asked about the most satisfying aspects of his four-year coaching stint, Kimber cited watching the overall evolution of the club, and the development and improvement of players like the Toole brothers, who stepped up from the reserves to make their mark at senior level this year.
Kimber will also take some life-long friendships with him.
“I look forward to staying in touch with everyone at Cora Lynn and will keep across their progress,” he said.
“They have a bright future with plenty of top youngsters, led by Kevin Vanderberghe and Jeremy Monckton.
“It’s scary to think what they will be like in five-year’s time.”
This season, Kimber was also selected in the VCFL 2 team which beat the VAFA by a point at Elsternwick Park. He was also involved in a three-way tie for the Alf Walton medal, the EDFL’s best and fairest award.
Interestingly, though, he only finished fifth in the Cobras’ best and fairest this season. Ruckman Brad Horaczko won that by six votes from defender, and captain, Tim Payne. Ruck-rover Brady White finished third, a further two votes back, and Ryan Gillis – who kicked 88 goals for the season – was fourth.
