Photo: Tom Ballantye (left) with Devonport captain Kieran Mulraney and the NPL trophy. [PlessPix]
Tom Ballantyne has had his most difficult year as coach of Devonport City in what is his fourth year in charge.
Rebuilding will be a priority in the off-season and Devonport seeks to regain its standing as Tasmania's top club.
In his four years at the club he has won two NPL titles, two Lakoseljac Cups, two Summer Cups, one Women's Super League title and two Women;s Statewide Cups,
Devonport are currently third on the Tasmanian NPL standings, 9 points adrift of leaders South Hobart and 4 points behind second-ranked Launceston City.
I spoke to Devonport coach Tom Ballantyne about the season.
Photo: Tom Ballantyne with last season's Summer Cup. [PlessPix]
1. How old are you and what is your playing and coaching background?
I turned 40 this year and started coaching part time back in 2008 in the UK. I started full time coaching in 2011 when I was at Aston villa and Cardiff city. For the last year I have been working towards the AFC Professional Diploma, which I am excited to say I've passed.
2. What do you attribute your success at Devonport to in recent years?
The players and support from the club.
3. Would you say the team is having a lean period at the moment?
Missing out on the league and cup for a season doesn't make a lean period. Remember, we were just a heartbeat away from clinching the league on the final day last year.
Photo: Tom Ballantyne directing his troops. [PlessPix]
4. Can you rectify that and challenge for the NPL title again?
Of course we can. Having arguably some of the best players in the league over the past two years move on means that we are in a rebuild phase at the moment as we bring young players into the team.
5. You also coach the club’s WSL team. Does that extra task make it difficult for you as a coach?
It has made me more process driven as I have to plan and work in advance, sometimes to a tight timeline specially on game days. I am very fortunate that I have very good assistants, team managers and medical support.
6. Are there any differences to coaching NPL and WSL?
Yes and no. Right now, the main difference is that the women have been a consistent group and have a more comprehensive understanding of our principles. The men looked like that in 22' and 23' but we are currently in a different phase.
Photo: Tom Ballantyne congratulating his players. [PlessPix]
7. How would you describe your coaching philosophy?
I’m a coach who’s driven by my principles, not by rigid systems or formations. I believe that a coach’s role is to create a formation that positions players optimally for their strengths. This approach varies from club to club and season to season, depending on the players’ abilities. Within any given formation, it’s crucial to establish ecosystems that maximise the individual potential of each player within a group.
Photo: Tom Ballantye (left) with former South Hobart coach, Ken Morton. [PlessPix]
8. Who do you see as your main rivals in the NPL?
South Hobart.
9. Do you have any recruiting plans in the near future and later on?
It will depend on what we look like at the end of the season. It's hard to know as we are not sure who is off to Uni or might be moving for work at this time.
10. Should there be promotion and relegation in the NPL?
I think this is a question for FT as lots has to be considered with is. Size of the player pool, investment by current NPL clubs to meet criteria and the ability of clubs to meet the criteria if coming in. Those are some of the constraints that I can see.
Photo: Tom Ballantyne is shown the red card at South Hobart Oval. [PlessPix]
11. Would you say that with the building upgrades at Valley Road it is now one of the best, if not the best, football venue in the State?
Yes I believe it is the best facility in the state, when the pitch gets upgraded at the end of the season it will be as good as any on the mainland.
12. What are your hopes and aspirations for Devonport in the future?
34 comments:
The sheer amount of players Tom has brought in outside the state suggests he does not do rebuilds and to call it that is fraud. He will do whatever it takes to win at any cost and to try to say he is rebuilding is quite a joke.
It seem’s Devonport are topping their list up each year do avoid a rebuild.
Sounds very South Hobart of you haha
Fairly evident that he doesn’t trust any of the club’s academy, but they seem to do well with their visa and mainland recruits so that’s something.
I totally agree with 10:32am (nothing to do with South Hobart either)
The sheer amount of players they have signed this season and then to claim they are playing young players is quite the joke, The only young player is that Last the rest have been signed or been at the club for a while, if he doesn’t have the best side his ( comprehensive ) principles don’t seem to work very well, no ownership basically saying the players don’t get it. If he can’t sign 10 plus players each season he’s cooked.
To comment on point 3.
No trophies in 2024 and possibly only 1 trophy and that's very very unlikely on 2025.
Likely Finishing outside the top 2 for the second year.
No other Devonport coach has not won a trophy in a single season let alone 2 since Gallo in 2017.
That's lean.
Lucky for him that port have a very big cheque book to keep buying players from other clubs and abroad for “rebuilding”
How big is their check book? Asking for a friend?
Maybe, yes. All teams have lean periods? Maybe I am wrong. May I ask what coaching credentials you may have? Your success as a coach? Or just good on a keyboard? Every coach needs a data analyst so maybe put your fingers to good work.
How many of Morton's Academy are in the team at South
Laka cups and leagues irrelevant?
Coach of the year for me. What his done to rebuild that squad by developing young local talent has been nothing short of amazing.
From Hahn cup squad 8 came through the academy at some stage.
I believe in SH NPL Squad they have registered there is 17 players from the academy they mentioned it on the commentary last night.
The cheque book as you put it is around 60% of most clubs in the top 4 but let’s not have facts get in the way of a popular narrative. Let your friend know!
Some of these comments are just pathetic. Saw just as many Devonport academy players as South Hobart on the weekend
Ballantyne has polarised opinions. Can't argue with his record but the good times might've been and gone. Saying that their performance V South was the best of the year so far.
8 players from the Hahn cup squad came through the academy as did 1 from South Melbourne
Why doesn’t he buy a keeper?
Name them please. The port team is full of outsiders. How many Devonport academy players. Unlike south Hobart which are mostly academy
Probably cause he wants to back a young local in?
Wasn't Adam Gorrie a Devonport academy product?
OK, Dev Players in NPL Squad who played juniors at the Club: Smith, Last, Payne, Cruden, Vanneutegem, Sheen, Reman, Wilson, (8)probably a couple more. Shame that these facts keep coming up and ruining the preferred story.
Who else have signed 12 players this season ?!
Anon 6.26
Don't get to name in the squad everyone fills it with locals Smith, last, Payne. That's all you have that consistently play.
Who cares anyone 4 seasons over 20 different players from outside Tasmania that's TBs legacy
How many playing NPL?
People still using cheque books? I like direct transfers these days.
The academy lures the best young talent in Hobart with a dollar figure attached
Why people salty over players? If teams have to get players in, doesn’t that show the lack of depth in the state? We are now filling teams with players as a lot of locals get sick of the travelling involved. For Hobart teams it’s less of an issue, but for Laun and NW coast, working full time and spending a day every second weekend on the road wears thin year after year. Hence why the league is going downhill with player availability as they head to AFL and don’t have to travel and get paid way more $
I can’t believe teams are paying players. Teams looking to try and win each year by getting the best squad together. Incredible. Maybe teams should not look to do this and lose every game. That would be fun.
Haha! So the original question was about squad comparison and now that didn’t work out for you it’s now starting 11! I’ll humour you though. Locals who regularly start: Cruden, Payne, Smith, Mulraney,Barton, Last, Ty Sturzaker ( forgot to add both of them to the now irrelevant Squad list). We can keep doing this.
He has done that since he got there. Finally giving a local a go. Let’s see how long he lasts.
People on are talking about players being paid and not having local players..but let’s look at how many players South have that have jumped ship for $$$. Now I’m not blaming the players for wanting a little bit of extra income on the side. But let’s not sit here and act like South have a squad full of homegrown/local/academy players. How many A-league or any professional team for that fact, have a majority of local/academy players?
Barton is not local
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