Darin Compt: Game time anytime, turn it up and let it play. Local sports network all day, your whole team, your call day from first whistle to replay. Local sports network, relive the game your way. Alright, welcome back to Local Sports Network and the Northern Footy Show. This is something I've never done before. I'm interviewing someone who I haven't announced is Northern Footy Show coach and team of the year, but I'm doing it on a day where he's decided that his time is up at Diamond Creek. Welcome to the podcast, Andrew Tranquilli. Yeah, it's well. What an intro. Mate, Monster. Well, I haven't even had the opportunity to tell you yet, but you are the TNFS coach of the year. We weren't looking to put that out for another couple of weeks, but it will it will be wasted if I don't do it now. You have had, before we get into why you're moving on, but you have had an outstanding couple of years. But this year for me, and I'll put my hand up and I had you guys second last on the ladder because I thought it's such a big jump to division one, but you've made us commentators look like We don't know what we're talking about, which isn't that hard to be honest. But well done on an amazing season this year and of course on everything else you've achieved. Yeah, look, thanks for those kind words. And at least we weren't predicted to be bottom, so we would have survived in your predictor. So that would have been okay. But look, look, as much as on the front man, the credit goes to the what we call our village of young lads that you know they trusted in the game plan that we tried to put in play many years ago and they've carried it through and rewards from yeah young men that represent dime. And you're gonna finish second or third on the ladder, most likely second. and I think th from where you've come from is amazing. Let let's go back a step. We'll come back to that. The announcement came out this morning that you wouldn't be reapplying for your coaching role at Diamond Creek in twenty twenty seven. What brought you to that decision? Yeah, look, the club's been fantastic. We started having that conversation probably six weeks ago. you know, the honest question was what are you thinking for next year? And I know I've been given a lot of time to the club and and that at a at a cost of not really a cost, but look, family time as well as other work commitments and personal commitments that have been building up behind the scenes. And And it's not that I didn't have the support of both family and work, but as the year went on and as the games went on, and I just felt it we were in a really good stable position of what I originally came on board to help rebuild the club with that it was the right time to hand it over, that it would be an easy transition of a passing of the baton. and it's at a point where I can also then, you know, take a half a step back and Relive and being a a husband and a dad and and just enjoy weekends watching footy again. The commitment is gigantic to be a coach, a local coach, I feel more than ever before. And I speak to more coaches than I ever have in my life over the last three years doing this show. It's no longer a Tuesday, Thursday rock up for two hours of training and coach at two PM, is it? No, no, it's not. I mean, you could make it that way, but I don't think you'll get the results that you're after. But it's actually more than coaching too. It's it's you know, it's being a mentor, a leader, it's been a guider, it's been, you know, a guidance. it's just been someone that you want someone to have chew your ear and have a chat and how you're going, is everything okay? And it's talking to your coaches, it's talking to your executives, it's talking to your supporters, your sponsors. like even little things like this now with you. You know, it's you know it could be a five minute phone call, which doesn't sound like much, but your time's up by 50 a week. the hours, the hours and the time out to be lucky, I think also that you can do that with your vocation of what your your vocation of choice is. some struggle, some really do it easy, some have got plenty of time. But yeah, the answer to your question is. If someone says how many hours do you think you put in, if they're not saying at least thirty, if not forty hours a week, yeah, I think they're probably not doing the right thing by the the playing group. Yeah, I I think you're I think you're spot on. And I I'm hearing that consistently from many coaches. the effort I was speaking to Matthew Hyde in a similar interview last week and he was looking forward to running water for his young fella, you know, and and it it's a break from it sometimes is what you need. The truth is you you're all You're all addicted to coaching in some format or another. I don't think this is the end of Andrew Tranquilly the coach though, is it? no, never say never. Absolutely. Never say never. And it's akin to when I finished up at Doncaster after an eight year stint. again, the timing was right. got the club up from division three up to premier and playing finals in premier and you know, an analogy that got presented to me was, you know, it was, well, seven years of cooking a sausage. you know, have you got one more year in cooking it or is it gonna burn? And I just felt, you know, that sausage was ready to be eaten with some sauce and onion. So it's a it was a, but you never say never. And it's again, if something was to be come my way, I'm not saying I'm jumping at anything, but look, you always talk to people, how are things going? Yep. Always there for learning. Could be gone. But you never say it never. You just I know it's around the corner. Is the next level up of any interest to you? And I asked that after interviewing Casey Duncan earlier today. and the next level up is of interest. So, I mean, is VFL if there was an offer to become a line coach, an assistant coach, or a coach at that next level up because you have a fantastic coaching resume, is is that something that could tickle the fancy a little? Yeah, I you know, I I've never really looked at it, never really considered it. It's a I love local football. I just love helping young men achieve their best that weren't good enough to play talent league and play VFL and but they want to play the best level that they can. So I really enjoy that side of it in helping players get the best out of themselves, but even more importantly, help become the best person of themselves. So yeah, I'd look again, I'll say never say never, but no. Look, at this point in time, I think local football is probably where I'm best suited. Let me let me ask you this. Did did this decision have anything to do the most touching moment of the season for me was watching you and Tim Bomgetty present your young bloke his first jumper. I I I got I was actually aware of it beforehand and then I got the video sent to me. We put it up, it went absolutely bananas and it made two hard men look like puppy dogs. Like is we're just it was just a beautiful moment in footy, which I love. is the intention to be able to go and watch your son play more footy. I understand he's quite the footballer too. i is that one of the reasons? yeah, I wouldn't be honest if I said no, but yeah that was definitely part of the family reasoning and yeah it's Missing out on some important games that he had this year. You know, I'd be lying if I said I didn't feel the impact of it. So you sort of gotta try and catch up on those lost moments by watching a replay with him and sitting there with him and try and revisit it as if it's live. And but yeah, definitely that day at Altham, full credit to Tim Bongetti in the Eltham Football Club. I mean, just to be able to do something like that, you know, to have a rival coach come in the rooms and and share that special moment on behalf of the family was pretty special. So yeah, that's part of it. my daughters as well, they've also got lots of things happening. And so yeah, so being a a dad and a husband was definitely part of the decision making and yeah, is it time to also just take a step back and share the love again. I totally get it. It is it is a massive commitment. I do that obviously with my own. I go and watch my young bloke every week. I'm gonna miss this week to call the Lorimer Ivanhoe game. and I'm sort of glad it's a bit of a dead rubber in division one between Greensboro and Bundura this week. I don't feel half as bad, but it's it it's amazing. I I wanna take you back to the premiership last year. It was the build up of build ups there'd been a a couple of unsuccessful cracks and it's so they're so hard to win on any given day, as you know as well as anyone. The the the joy that comes from a day like that, explain to me from a coaching perspective what that means because I've seen so many people benefit from it, such as Michael Misson who's now having his own success with and I see his game plan in yours, AT. I see his game plan in yours. I called that on the weekend. But you know what How does the joy of that day go? What goes through a coach's head? Because you have so much you're responsible for on that day. Yeah, I mean that it was no secret. strike three and you're out, that's for sure. But but look, it was the preparation going into it. I mean we tweaked a little bit, we had learnings from the two previous years. we didn't change a lot, but we just probably changed enough of The way we prepared going into that last month of football. bit of the old, you know, Ron Perassi, but it was the old Jeral Collingwood, North Melbourne back in the 70. All the work's been done. You don't need to do any more 200s, 400s. Just feel good, get a touch, stay connected, be united. But the look in the eyes of the playing group that was going into that final series, you just knew that, yeah, they I mean, they felt it as much as I did the previous two years, 80% of them. So you just knew that, yeah, good luck trying to take this one away from them. So it was it was special. And it was also, yeah, I love that. you know, I spoke to Mick last year. It was probably around round 16, 17, you know, and I said to him, Come on, mate, what are you doing? What are you thinking? Why aren't you a senior coach? And he said that that sparked him up again. we got the premiership. He went and took his own side again in West Heidelberg and to take that side to to a finals after what thirty odd years. look if he if he had taken five percent of what I'd Well done. Yeah, no, no, absolutely. You just dropped out there. But I think you more or less said if you took five percent of what you offered him, you're you're pretty grateful for him. There's a comment that he's put up here on the post today from Malcolm Ison saying thank you for everything you've done for me individually during my time at Diamond Creek. I have so much gratitude for the time and effort that you've invested in me. those those things we find it so hard to measure in football, don't we? D the these sort of comments live with you Not better than a grand final win, but I find personally sometimes someone says, thanks for covering that or thanks for speaking about that kid that way. And it's these little things that make football what it is, isn't it, AT? it is. And you and you're not out there seeking the recognition or the the gratitude for it. But if yeah, someone appreciates it and responds to it and acknowledges it, yeah, it makes you stand a little bit taller and a little bit prouder. So Every now and again. It's a hard cape of this game. So if you're gonna get a pat on the back, yeah, take them while they're there. Well, I'm not sure if you've read all the pats on the back you're getting on the Diamond Creek page and the Northern Footy show page today, but I'm gonna give you the give you the mail, allocate an hour or two for you to get through them because there's no lack of them. Well, everyone that's Done it, thank you very much, but they must know me well that I don't do social media. So they'll know I'll never read it, so it never happened. I I got a tech I got a text from within my group that I said I was interviewing you today. I have a nice little closed group of people and and they said he will not read one of them. He he definitely will not read one of them, so make sure you read a couple out, which is exactly exactly I'm sure the kid the kids the kids will probably get it on board so we'll have a we'll have a sit down one night. And we'll have that we'll reminisce. I I want you to explain something to me. The club talks about the village. I hear about the village, and as an outsider, I don't and have never really grasped the word the village and the connection that you've created with it. explain to me why it's called the village at Diamond Creek. Yeah, look, it's something that I guess. Myself and the leadership group, how we want to be so inclusive right across our junior club to our senior club to our netball club that everyone that wears the red and blue is part of what our village is. And and I guess it's also from a coach's point of view, is a way of look, yep, we've got a list of 70, we've got a list of 80, whatever it may be. And yes, 22 may play on the weekend, but it's really making sure that. Number 23 to number 70 or 80 are not left isolated or left alone and they are part of it. So whatever successes we have, the 22 may be the ones that represent, but it's the whole village that embodies it. And it's it's it's a powerful message that we've got going together that we will we'll have players in this finals campaign in both our seniors and reserves. Our nine eights unfortunately didn't make it. Our net balls are still in the mix. So we'll have players that won't represent for two hours, you know, between sirens, but they'll be there absolutely supporting and cheering and congratulating and doing whatever they can. So we just make sure that everyone's feeling the enjoyment and and they're on the ride. We're all together in it. No, that's that's really clear at that club. I I look at, you know, all thirty-one clubs. You know, every year so much time goes into understanding the different things we we've been calling a lot on my commentary lately, the Tranquilli method and you know the stoppage game has been, you know, people have adapted to it. And I said to Brent McCaffrey on the radio the other day, we were talking about you and we're calling the game and I said, Have a look at Michael Misson's game style. This has got Andrew Tranquilli written all over it. He's got this beautiful stoppage. game going and it and it nearly paid dividends for him as well. And you you have to have the cattle to be able to get that game to work and the way you've done it. But do you take that as a little I know everyone tells me you're not a person that's looking for any pats on the back. You're not looking for any well done. That's definitely not who AT is. But to know that there's been so many clubs in the last year that have adopted sections of your game plan, it must feel great. Yeah, well I'm still waiting for the for the commission checks to come through though. None of them are gonna roll it in. But look, I mean if you know, we're a copycat industry. What's working, let's have a look at it, let's give it a go. And that's the same as us. I mean, we we weren't perfect this year and we had to adapt our game plan because well, what's working elsewhere and and try and find the best of both worlds, but look, we know what works for us. We know that when it really works, it's hard to beat. We've just got to really stick fat and stay true to it and give it our best shot. I won't keep you for too much longer. How did you go having this conversation with the group? Was it emotional? yeah, yeah, it was. I mean, tried my best not to not to tear up. I think I succeeded. The very strong AT. Yeah, yeah, yeah. So look, they're a special playing group. It's a special, you know, club committee, you know, the trainers. There are special people. They all put in. They're all we're all there for the same reason. But the playing group is who I guess deal with all the time. And you know, as I said, I've had a lot of players that were there from day one with me. players that took the leap of faith to come on board in the recruiting, you know, sell them a vision. Is it gonna happen? Is it not gonna happen? It's I mean we'd win it, we get we lost, we lost, and they stick fat. But yeah, it was it was. It was was special and it was something that went down really well. So we did it last night. we did it as part of our training, as part of the review, and yeah, and then we'll now we'll just move forward. I'm a bit disappointed in the group. I didn't get the Chinese whispers. I usually get someone that will tell me something from the inside what's going on, but they kept it under wraps really well. You'd be proud of that. let me yeah, I I kept it under wraps myself. It was a last minute decision. Right, Jesus, that is that is last minute. Let me ask you two more questions. When you look back at this playing group now, compared to one the one you inherited, what are you most proud of? The maturity of the young men that they've grown up to be the leaders that they are. That's one thing they've developed into really good, strong local footballers. they're leaders, they're educators. You know, someone like a Nick Barrow, Joel Randall, you know, these Jack Empi, these guys, Matt Lewis, you know, they were 1920 when I first started, young rascals. You know, we called them the next generation as part of our leadership group. Yeah. So we started to really teach that. But then People like Jacob Booth who really stuck fat with the club. Could have could have gone anywhere. And then, you know, Nathan Sewell, who took over the leadership and the captaincy from Chris Maloney. Just people like that that have really are just there for the right reason. So, you know, they'd be superstars anywhere they played, but they're superstars at Diamond Creek and to to really develop and and help teach then the next generation that we've got with the kids that we've got. I mean That's no secret. We're a young side. We've got players that have played maybe under 40 games, but they're under 21 years old. You know, they've been able to get senior games in the last two, three years. That is probably part of the reason why we're in good stead. Yeah, 100% agree with that. Now I'm gonna get you to give me some one-word answers. And I know for a coach that can be difficult. Casey struggled earlier. Michael Misson's next, so he might struggle as well. I'm gonna I'm gonna read out some player names. I just want one word answers. Brenton Keating. Legend. Tyler Barnes. Tough. Nathan Searle. It's gotta be two words here. The best. He put you up as the goat. I think there's a bit of love going on here. He's on his comments. Bronson Hill. Gum. Yeah. I I I'm I e he's a guy that has all of my attention this year. Nicholas Barrow. Reliable. You and McGregor. McPherson, you're McGregor. You and you and I I don't know if I can delete that out of this podcast. You're a McPherson. You're McGregor. Well, you're your McGregor's a superstar, but you're McPherson can be anything. Yeah. Yeah, I I absolutely agree. Jacob Booth. And and I know I'm dragging this, but I I've got so you've created so many stars here, but Jacob Booth. Geez. that's a tough one. I can he's just he embodies everything. Yeah. The goat. There you go, the goat. The goat. you know, he's pretty special. You y you've had some really good young kids come through and you've had some access to them. but then you've had some players come back and play the old game. Darcy McPherson. Awesome. Yeah. Yeah. I I I I've heard far better than he gets credit for when when he like apparently his readability of the ball is at a whole nother level. Would that be a fair call? He he he's the silent assassin. You know, he doesn't say boo, he doesn't do it. He just he plays with leadership and look, I think he could be a coach in the making if he ever wants If he does ever get back to local level. But yeah, awesome. Yeah. My last one and and I love this guy. I I can't help but love him. I love Nathan Searle. we have a great little band to go in, but I'm a huge fan of this guy, Dale Marshall. Drives me mad. Nah, he he he he's one with the lot. He can do it all. He can do it all. He's dangerous, he's smart, he's erratic, he's tough, he's a leader, he's a gentleman, he's one with a lot. Really epitomizes everything Diamond Creek's about, doesn't he? He does. He's he's his thirst to win and his hunger to be the best is what as a coach needs to be monitored and managed. But when he's on song. And he's on song more often than not, and God help who plays against him. Yeah, makes tough. He's he's one of the best. Tell me about Liam Farrah. This isn't a one-word outstanding young man with the world in front of him. Every time I watch a replay or a highlight on him, I'm I'm drawn to someone that looks Like he's doing it a little bit easier. It reminds me sort of of Greg Williams. He has all the time in the world with the ball. Like, how do you explain how he does that? Look, he's so the Liam Farr story, if you're not aware, so he was one of the unlucky ones that wasn't picked for the grand final last year. I didn't know that. Yeah, so so that was a bit of a pill for him to swallow, and it was probably one of the hardest decisions as a coach and selection committee that we had to make. to respect. Rest of the village, you know, that was there. And the fact that he bleeds red and blue and copped it on the chin, and it wouldn't have been easy for him over the summer. Came back, you know, on board, had a big summer. Carlton VFL listed, so it was awesome training. Also doing the labor work where it's probably, you know, with Kay and Larry moving, you know, tons and tons and tons of crushed rock with Wilbur as opposed to a dingo. And yeah. But he He epitomizes what it means to be a Diamond Creek player. I believe he's at every training session where he can, he's at every game where he can, even though he's at Carlton VFL. And he is absolutely gone to the next level that I really hope his journey continues because whether we've had a part in helping his development or he's just had this natural talent that he's a late developer. He's he's putting his name in lights that yeah. Fingers crossed we haven't seen the last of him this year, but I could understand why if we do. And that leads me into the final one, Taj Logan. You got some special wheels. Special wheels. He's he's another one that's, you know, again, with Liam, probably not as naturally gifted in skills. But if there was to be another spot in the Victorian Museum with a heart, I reckon his heart would be just as big as Farlap's. He's his first. for competitive work to win, to support. Yeah, he's yeah, for a twenty year old young man, he's another one that I think's got a bright future and he's only just starting his his career at whatever level he gets to. So I wish the two of them the best. And the other one, if I can say that's is also James Ellison. He's an SNSU bellist and again he's another one that He needs continuity and consistency. And I know he's got the thirst and the want to play at the highest level. And and we'll he we're here to support him for as much as he can. So we wish all three the best. God, you've got some good guys. can you win the can you win the premiership this year? Can you go back to back? well, we're we're in the mix, so it's at least that's a chance. look. I think we're we're a team that we know that when we're playing at our best we'll give anyone a a run for their money. We're realists. I mean, Heidelberg's a superstar, but we can't lose sight of you know Monty, Bandura and Greensboro. So I mean Greensboro, you know, they've got our money for the minute, they've got our measure. So but no, look, we're we're a proud club, we're a proud unit, we're raped that we're gonna have an awesome say in this finals campaign and hopefully we're We're dancing on the on the big stage at the end. If you had one message for everyone who has supported you from club, from supporters, parents, everyone, and and it's gonna be hard for everyone to be able to come and speak to you before you leave. What's your one message to everyone that's supported you through this and your family? Thank you and stick fat with the village. You're a very, very good man, AT. you are the hardest man to interview in the league. I reckon I find it harder to get you than anyone else because you you probably scare me the most out of all the coaches, but you are you are a very good man. I appreciate you taking the time to do the podcast with us today. And whatever you choose to do in the future, I I look forward to following it, mate. appreciate it, Daz. And thanks again for supporting local footy, mate. It's greatly appreciated. No, we're here to help. All right, mate. Well, you take care and we'll speak very soon. All right, say good day to me, so for me. Will do. See ya to you. Say yeah. Bye bye.