GVGjr
08-02-2007, 06:34 PM
Kolyniuk returns
By Mark Heenan
7th February 2007 05:17:26 PM
On board … Steve Kolyniuk is St Albans Football Club’s new coach for 2007.
FORMER Western Bulldogs star Steve Kolyniuk is excited about the prospect of resuming his career with St Albans in the Western Region Football League (WRFL).
Kolynuik: (http://www.starnewsgroup.com.au/story/34809)
However Kolyniuk, a dual premiership player with St Albans in 1985 and 2001, won’t be pulling on the boots again and insists his playing days are well and truly gone.
The 36-year-old was recruited by St Albans over the summer after playing coach Ryan Pagan, son of Carlton coach Denis, left the club.
“Playing football doesn’t really interest me now,” Kolyniuk said.
“I’ve achieved what I set out to do on the football field, but I’m keen on the coaching side.
“I’m really passionate about going back to the St Albans Football Club. It has been a big part of my life.
“Apart from playing at the Bulldogs, this is where I started my career.
“I have been here at the club for 21 years and I started here when I was nine years of age.”
While the Saints just missed out on the finals last season, Kolyniuk believes the club is capable of regularly cementing a top-five spot.
Kolyniuk, who played 177 Australian Football League games and booted 198 goals, career spanned 14 seasons with the Bulldogs from 1987 to 2000.
When Kolyniuk retired from the Bulldogs in 2000, he played on as an assistant coach at the Saints in 2001, but even back then he was ready to end his days as a player.
“Once I finished my career with the Bulldogs, I was really pushed into playing the next year because of my AFL background,” he said.
“It wasn’t what I wanted to do at the time. I knew my time was up.
“(However) that year in 2001 was massive. Playing and being an assistant coach in a premiership year was a massive thrill.”
After 2001, Kolyniuk took a well-earned break from the game and later resumed his football life at Greenvale in the Essendon District Football League (EDFL), where he worked as an assistant coach with former Bulldogs team-mate Stephen MacPherson.
Kolyniuk, who works as a sales representative with Barry Vagg Packaging in West Melbourne, said the year spent in the EDFL was a great eye-opener.
“I like to think the WRFL is heading in the same direction as the EDFL,” he said.
“In some ways I think the WRFL still has some way to go, but the administration, standard and professionalism of the league has definitely improved since I played in 2001.
“The EDFL is very strict when it comes to misconduct, and I think the WRFL could (implement) some of those ideas.”
According to WRFL chief executive John Batty, the competition is the second-fastest growing league in Victoria with nearly 6000 participants.
The WRFL has also increased its employee numbers in the past couple of years with four full-time staff and various part-time workers.
“It amazes me how much growth there is in the western region, particularly around Caroline Springs,” Batty said.
“The WRFL has an excellent league, but like everything, the league speaks to other competitions about improving all the time.”
By Mark Heenan
7th February 2007 05:17:26 PM
On board … Steve Kolyniuk is St Albans Football Club’s new coach for 2007.
FORMER Western Bulldogs star Steve Kolyniuk is excited about the prospect of resuming his career with St Albans in the Western Region Football League (WRFL).
Kolynuik: (http://www.starnewsgroup.com.au/story/34809)
However Kolyniuk, a dual premiership player with St Albans in 1985 and 2001, won’t be pulling on the boots again and insists his playing days are well and truly gone.
The 36-year-old was recruited by St Albans over the summer after playing coach Ryan Pagan, son of Carlton coach Denis, left the club.
“Playing football doesn’t really interest me now,” Kolyniuk said.
“I’ve achieved what I set out to do on the football field, but I’m keen on the coaching side.
“I’m really passionate about going back to the St Albans Football Club. It has been a big part of my life.
“Apart from playing at the Bulldogs, this is where I started my career.
“I have been here at the club for 21 years and I started here when I was nine years of age.”
While the Saints just missed out on the finals last season, Kolyniuk believes the club is capable of regularly cementing a top-five spot.
Kolyniuk, who played 177 Australian Football League games and booted 198 goals, career spanned 14 seasons with the Bulldogs from 1987 to 2000.
When Kolyniuk retired from the Bulldogs in 2000, he played on as an assistant coach at the Saints in 2001, but even back then he was ready to end his days as a player.
“Once I finished my career with the Bulldogs, I was really pushed into playing the next year because of my AFL background,” he said.
“It wasn’t what I wanted to do at the time. I knew my time was up.
“(However) that year in 2001 was massive. Playing and being an assistant coach in a premiership year was a massive thrill.”
After 2001, Kolyniuk took a well-earned break from the game and later resumed his football life at Greenvale in the Essendon District Football League (EDFL), where he worked as an assistant coach with former Bulldogs team-mate Stephen MacPherson.
Kolyniuk, who works as a sales representative with Barry Vagg Packaging in West Melbourne, said the year spent in the EDFL was a great eye-opener.
“I like to think the WRFL is heading in the same direction as the EDFL,” he said.
“In some ways I think the WRFL still has some way to go, but the administration, standard and professionalism of the league has definitely improved since I played in 2001.
“The EDFL is very strict when it comes to misconduct, and I think the WRFL could (implement) some of those ideas.”
According to WRFL chief executive John Batty, the competition is the second-fastest growing league in Victoria with nearly 6000 participants.
The WRFL has also increased its employee numbers in the past couple of years with four full-time staff and various part-time workers.
“It amazes me how much growth there is in the western region, particularly around Caroline Springs,” Batty said.
“The WRFL has an excellent league, but like everything, the league speaks to other competitions about improving all the time.”