General News
21 November, 2024
New coach: Mean Machine looks to Sharpen up
By GARY WALSH BRIDGEWATER has parted company with senior coach Rick Ladson. The highest-profile coach in the Loddon Valley league, Hawthorn premiership player Ladson was at the helm for three seasons. In 2024 he was co-coach with gun full-forward...
By GARY WALSH
BRIDGEWATER has parted company with senior coach Rick Ladson.
The highest-profile coach in the Loddon Valley league, Hawthorn premiership player Ladson was at the helm for three seasons.
In 2024 he was co-coach with gun full-forward Lachlan Sharp, who moved to the Mean Machine from the Bendigo league, kicked 138 goals and won the club’s best and fairest award.
Sharp also finished second in the league best and fairest.
Ladson was offered the chance to take an assistant role next season but declined.
Sharp has been appointed as playing coach for 2025.
New Bridgewater club president Tim Ferguson said the co-coaching set up was always considered a one-year arrangement.
“I think he (Ladson) was keen to continue, but we suggested he step back and take an assistant coaching role.”
Ferguson said the club was “100 per cent confident” that Sharp could take on the main coaching role and continue his brilliant form on the ground.
After strong off-season recruiting led to high expectations, Bridgewater finished third in 2024, losing the preliminary final to eventual premiers Marong by 85 points.
Ladson was unable to coach from the sidelines for several matches after having major knee surgery, with Sharp taking on the main role.
Bridgewater reached the grand final in Ladson’s first year as coach but was thrashed by Marong in the decider by 94 points.
The Mean Machine finished fifth in 2023.
Ladson played 125 AFL games for the Hawks, winning the flag in 2008. He also played in Bridgewater’s 2016 premiership team.
In recruiting news, the Mean Machine have signed brothers Jacob and Luke Ellings.
Jacob returns to the club after missing a season with an ACL injury, while Luke joins from Kangaroo Flat and shapes as a potential star of the competition.
He played in the Bendigo inter-league side against the VAFA this year and was a premiership player in 2023 with Gisborne.
Luke was Kangaroo Flat’s highest vote winner in the league’s best and fairest Michelsen Medal in 2024.