THE Robe Football Club has appointed incoming seaside schoolteacher Cohen Pettitt as its new coach.
The 24-year-old takes up a position as an upper primary teacher at Robe Primary School at the end of this month.
His first game for premiership points will be at home against Tantanoola on Good Friday (April 10).
Originally from Broken Hill, Pettitt played with Central Districts in the SANFL while undergoing his teacher training in Adelaide.
In recent years, Pettitt has taught in Adelaide and played with North Clare in the strong North East Football League where he finished third in the 2018 Mail Medal.
The rumour mill suggests Pettitt also fielded overtures from the Tantanoola and Millicent clubs when news of his teaching appointment at Robe became known.
Among his new team mates will be reigning Mail Medallist Tom Wachtel who is also 24 and a junior primary teacher at Robe Primary School.
“I will be sharing a house with Tom,” Pettitt said.
“I am talking to the Robe committee about a date for a meet-the-coach session.
“The first pre-season training run will be held at Robe on Tuesday under the direction of senior player Jordan Pettit.”
The new head Rooster said he spent most of his career as an on-baller with stints on the back and forward flanks.
The appointment of Pettitt means all nine clubs in the Mid South East Football League have finalised their coaches for the coming season.
Jack Kelly was set to mentor the Roosters for a fourth consecutive season in 2020.
However, he has accepted the invitation to be the Woodville West Torrens B Grade coach and the assistant to the new senior coach Jade Sheedy.
The pair had been team mates several seasons ago with SANFL club Sturt.
After claiming the flag in 2018, the Roosters lost the first semi-final in August to eventual premiers Kalangadoo.
There are other departures from Robe as family commitments prompted joint assistant coach Kane Cuthbertson to return to his home club of Bordertown.
Cuthbertson will coach the Roosters in the Kowree Naracoorte Tatiara Football League and is set to be joined by fellow Robe 2018 premiership team mates Quentin MacCallum and Lewis Crawford.
Robe has lost both of its 2019 co-captains as Jake Wehl has moved to the city while Jonny Agnew is taking a break from football.
However, ex-skipper Jaryd Dawson has fully recovered from a knee reconstruction and is back living in Robe.
In other MSEFL news, three former coaches are on the move.
Ex-Tantanoola mentor Josh Peters will be playing at Dartmoor in 2020.
Former Kongorong coach and 2011 Mail Medallist Bronson Saffin has been promoted from assistant coach to South Gambier coach as Brett Exelby has moved to Adelaide.
After a record four consecutive years at the helm of Mount Burr, Tom Renzi will coach Casterton.
