SUCCESSFUL East Gambier playing coach Matt Willson announced this week he has signed a one-year contract extension to remain at the helm of the Bulldogs.
Since Willson made the big switch over from Penola before the start of the 2017 season, he has turned East into a regular premiership contender.
In his first season at the club, he enjoyed instant success and delivered the Bulldogs their first premiership flag since 1988 alongside fellow co-coach Matt Scanlon.
Last year,he took the reins himself and his side backed it up with another grand final appearance, only to fall agonisingly short of back-to-back premierships after a four-point loss to Millicent.
East and Willson have continued to be a formidable combination this year and are well in the premiership reckoning despite a number of injury setbacks.
With all this recent success achieved in such a short period of time, Willson said it was an easy decision to sign an extension at the “kennel”.
“For me when the opportunity was there it was a very easy one,” he said.
“It was probably something we have worked through as a club, whether it was right for me to go on again.
“After looking at what we have done and what we think we can achieve over the next couple years, it was a decision we made together.”
Willson said he believes his rebuilding side is on track to mount a strong case for a hat-trick of grand final appearances.
“We have obviously had our struggles with injuries as most clubs do, but we certainly think we are on the right path to being competitive at the right time of year,” he said.
“There is a bit of work to do if we want to be right there come finals time, so we are building towards that.
“If we get the opportunity to finish in the top-four, the game changes, so we are excited.”
Unfortunately for Willson, one of those major injury concerns is himself.
His recent fitness struggles and a suspension caused him to play just two of the last seven matches.
Willson said he is unsure when he can make a regular return to the field and is taking a cautious approach in his return to full fitness.
“We are accessing it week to week – almost day to day at the moment,” he said.
“It dates back to interleague and it seems to be a bit of an ongoing thing I just can not seem to get right.
“I will give myself every chance to get through and fix up what we need until after the season.”
Although he has just signed a new contract locking him in for 2020, Willson remains focused on the immediate future of the Bulldogs.
He said he has been fortunate to only have to worry about his coaching as finals fast approach, while others have been able to focus on future plans behind the scenes.
“We are probably pretty lucky at the football club where as coach I can focus solely on coaching the side,” Willson said.
“We have some good off-field administrates with an eye for the future, but first and foremost we are concentrating on bringing success to 2019.”
In less than three seasons at their new club, the Willson “tribe” has already become some of the most regular and recognisable faces at the “kennel”.
Willson said himself and his family have settled in nicely.
“We love it there,” he said.
“The whole family have been welcomed in and it feels like home.
“It is a place where we can go and feel comfortable and we have some really strong friendships there.”
