07/10/2023
Sandringham Football Club is pleased to announce that Jake Batchelor will continue as Head Coach of the Zebras for the 2024 VFL season.
Settled in his role at the Sandringham Football Club, Jake Batchelor will continue on in 2024 - seeing him remain our VFL Head Coach for the fourth year running.
A former assistant coach with Frankston and development coach with St Kilda, Batch has flourished in this role following strong mentorship from former Head Coach, Aaron Hamill.
Driving high standards and cultivating camaraderie within the playing group, he is the perfect fit for the Zebras as he grows with his players, becoming a strong mentor for the group;
“I’m young — that’s my strength straight away … I’m all about trying to develop relationships with my players.”
He admitted that there is no denying the group would have loved to play finals in 2023, but believes they are heading in the right direction and is excited at the prospect of further development in 2024.
“We don’t talk about winning or losing at the club — that’s a result of doing what’s required”, he said.
“The development and potential of players such as Darby Hipwell, Vince Zagari and Noah Gown is something I look forward to building upon in 2024, added with the AFL-listed talent whom we have access to.”
With only thirteen days until pre-season begins, 2024 is no longer a speck on the horizon, but an ever-nearing opportunity to ‘grow both as individuals and [as] a collective’ according to Batch.
“I am incredibly excited about the path our affiliation with St Kilda Football Club - over 15 years strong - will take next season and beyond, in particular through the way it will help elevate Sandringham Football Club as a whole,” he admitted whilst sharing that at least one Zebras player will be drafted as a rookie to St Kilda per year in order to rejuvenate our connection.
Whilst ‘immensely eager’ to see how 2024 unfolds, Batch knows that there's work to be done in the off-season and is embracing the challenge of the expanded VFL competition.
Taking the next step to move out of the ‘mid-table bracket’ will be first on the agenda, and is a path that he is committed to following.
Written by Chloe Williams - Sandringham Football Club Media
Photography by Mark Woods