Familiar face returns to Grinter Reserve

A POPULAR club figure will return to Grinter Reserve in 2024 following a two-year stint as coach at a rival side in the Bellarine Football League (BFL).

Former Queenscliff coach Rory Nicol will return to Newcomb in 2024 for the first time in almost five years.

Nicol, who departed the Coutas at the end of the 2023 season, will take on a football operations role at the Power supporting extended senior coach Tony Mirabella.

“I looked into some coaching roles, had a few opportunities put in front of me at the GFL level, but couldn’t get it to work with the kids’ sporting commitments,” Nicol said.

“So when I heard from Newcomb to help out with some off-field stuff and supporting the playing group, it worked well with my private life and given my past connections at the club, it excited me to get back to the Power.”

Nicol mentioned he did not expect to return to Newcomb in an official capacity after a five-year stint, which ended following the cancellation of the 2020 season due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Newcomb was always so supportive of me during my time there as head coach, and I needed them as much as they needed me to be honest during that period,” he said.

“It holds a special place in my heart, those people that stood by me during my challenging times – it just feels like my home club to be honest and I can’t wait to help contribute to the club once again.”

Appointed senior coach at Newcomb in September 2015, Nicol helping the club to its highest ever win total in more than a decade in 2019, finishing seventh with six wins and 12 losses.

Now back at the Power, he hopes to get the the club back to where they once were, and possibly higher.

“The senior group is already hard at work preparing for next season without being asked, that’s how you know the players are committed to themselves and also Tony,” Nicol said.

“It’s an impressive group of young men, including Tony and his assistants, I just can’t wait to help them to be the best they can be and really get the club humming again.

“When I left the club, the Power were pushing finals, hopefully we can get back to that.”

Newcomb finished ninth in 2023 with three wins and 15 losses.