Keilor coach Mick McGuane is set to bring up his 300th game as senior coach in the Essendon District Football League, becoming the first senior coach to do so at one club. Tara Murray chats with McGuane and a couple of people he has impacted along the way at the Blues.
Mick McGuane might be the senior coach of Keilor, but it’s not unusual for him to be watching the thirds, the under-18s or the juniors every weekend.
While it might not seem important, for McGuane it’s part of what has made Keilor so great for such a long period of time.
McGuane’s love of football goes back to when he was a kid.
“My dad was coach at Sebastopol and I was the mascot,” he said. “I could not wait to play and get muddy.
“I’ve seen a lot of kids who are six or seven with their footballs wanting to do the same thing. That is what this club is about.”
Many of the players McGuane has watched in the past 17 years have been among the 219 players to play senior football under him.
On Saturday, August 17, McGuane will coach his 300th senior game for the Blues.
McGuane is more focused on the team and the club than what he has achieved.
His AFL playing record speaks for itself and he had coaching success at Burnie and Gisborne before he joined the Blues.
“It is something I didn’t aim at,” McGuane said before his milestone game. “I didn’t look too far ahead when I started.
“I got told that 11 players from the preliminary final team had left and it was a late appointment and the club was looking to navigate relegation for the first time.
“I took that personally and something to aim for … The rest is history and we went on to win the first premiership.”
McGuane said his love for winning keeps him competitive and looking for ways to improve.
He has had to reinvent himself and the club on a number of occasions.
McGuane’s interest in the junior program is not just as a supporter. He has coached a number of age groups along the years.
“Developing your junior program leads to stability and sustainability which is what you want,” he said. “I’m invested in that and you personally want to evolve them as young people and players.
“I put my hand up to coach. I have an invested interest with my son as well.
“The club is in good shape and you know who is who that is coming through.”
In 2012, McGuane coached the club’s under-16 team to a premiership.
Five of those players ended up on AFL lists. Jay White, who was in the side, played his 300th game for the Blues recently.
Star midfielder Nick O’Kearney was one of the players in the under-16 team
He was one of those many kids that McGuane watched from the side lines.
“He started to come and watch and offer a little bit of advice and the relationship has grown the longer I was at the footy club,” O’Kearney said.
“The guidance and the relationship grew when I started to transition into seniors. The summer of 2011 I started training with the seniors.
“I got some confidence the more sessions I did and come the early part of the year he said he wanted to sit down with dad and I.
“He asked if I wanted to play a couple of practice matches and gain some experience. Come a couple of weeks out from round one, he floated that he thought I would be up for round one.
“I made my debut under Mick at 15.”
O’Kearney didn’t play many games under McGuane at that stage as bigger things were on the horizon. He was eventually taken by St Kilda in the rookie draft.
When O’Kearney’s AFL dream didn’t work out, he didn’t hesitate to come back to play under McGuane at Keilor.
O’Kearney said McGuane was the best coach he’s ever had.
“His knowledge,” he said. “He puts a spin on things in a way that motivates players as well.
“He has the gift of the gab and being able to adapt. I’ve experienced that for a long time.
“He takes such a vested interest in footy and your personal life.
“It was tough for a while and I wanted to get my love back for the game and I got that at Keilor.
“When I’ve had tough times especially with my neck, he was the first person at my place to offer support.
“I’m thankful for him and hopefully we can win a couple more flags together. I wouldn’t be surprised if he coaches for another 10 to 15 years.”
Current Keilor president Ray Sheridan said McGuane’s preparation for games is something most people wouldn’t realise.
“I thought I knew a lot about football and Mick made me realise how much I didn’t know,” he said.
He said it is quite remarkable that McGuane has reached this milestone, with coaching a winning business.
The club will hold a function after the game, which happens to be against Greenvale, the side McGuane coached his first game against.
A lot of former players are expected to attend.
“He loves game day,” Sheridan said. “He’s a good winner and also a good loser.
“He always sees positives out of losing as well.”
Looking back at his coaching career, McGuane said it was hard to pick a favourite game, with four premierships among the mix.
The first in 2008 he told the then captain Lee Fraser after losing the second semi final that he believed they could win the premiership – and they did.
After a few lean years, the Blues won in 2016 with a different group. Then there’s the perfect seasons of 2019 and 2023.
In terms of the best players he’s coached, there’s a few standouts.
“I always felt like Dean Galea was clearly the best forward,” he said. “Jarrod Garth was a ripper as well.
“Talking mids, any of Leigh Fraser, Ricky Marcy,, Corey Ellis, Nick O’Kearney, Dylan Joyce, those types.
“Andrew Browne is the clear standout in the ruck, Down back Micka James was a stalwart.
“Jayden Laverde is still in the AFL system. Then you have Curtis Taylor, who is at North Melbourne, who gave us another avenue to goal in 2016.”
McGuane has already signed on for next year.
While the spotlight is on him this week, he’s focused on the bigger task at hand.
The Blues sit atop the premier division ladder and are red hot premiership favourites.
“To be 35 games undefeated [before the match with Airport West] it’s a credit to the club and people involved.
“We are the hunted out there, people want our scalp.”
The club rooms will be open until late on Saturday for celebrations.
