Wayne Petterd has announced he is stepping down from his senior coaching role at Broadbeach due to personal reasons.
Brett Andrews, current assistant coach, and 1996 premiership player at Broadbeach, will take over the reigns for the rest of the year.
After a few weeks consideration, Petterd informed the club of his decision on Monday night, breaking the news to the players at training on Tuesday.
It wasn’t a decision he took lightly, and regardless of Broadbeach’s difficult season to date, this call was made due to circumstances outside of football.
“It was disappointing because it wasn’t a footy reason that I left.” Petterd said.
“It was tough, I still love footy. As old as I am, I still love being involved with young men playing the game, teaching them the trade.
“I know that the timing didn’t look that good regarding football circumstances, but that was never a factor.”
While we all love footy, family must come first.
“I’ve always said that, and I tell my players that. You’ve got family, work, and then footy on the Gold Coast, and that’s how it always has been. In the end it wasn’t a hard decision because the family matter for sure,” he said.
Although he won’t be giving orders on a weekend, Petterd will still stay involved in the club he loves, when time permits.
“When I can get down there I will get down there, nothing surer,” Petterd said.
Broadbeach President Dale Perkins said the club will be right behind the Petterd family.
“The boys love him, but it’s too hard for him. We completely understand and support his decision and we will do everything we can to look after him,” Perkins said.
Petterd played 238 games for the Hobart Football Club, which included four grand finals and two premierships, and in that time, represented Tasmania on seven occasions.
He coached Hobart for three years, and had stints at Lindisfarne and Hounville, before moving the Gold Coast in 1997, where he coached Surfers Paradise and Burleigh before finding his home at Broadbeach.
He took the senior coaching job at Boradbeach in 2014, taking the Cats to the finals that year.
AFL Queensland CEO, Michael Conlan, paid tribute to Petterd’s contribution to the game.
“Wayne Petterd has been a great ambassador for AFL Queensland football. He has coached for a long period of time, across our talent programs and our community programs,” Conlan said.
“Wayne held a very strong bond and created a really good culture at the Broadbeach Football Club over the last couple of years. He gave the opportunity to a lot of young boys to step up and play senior football and follow their pathway into the State League competition.
“We fully respect his decision, and will do everything we possibly can to support Wayne, his family and the Broadbeach Football Club.”
By Andrew Wiles – @andrewjwiles
