Less than six months after departing the Gold Coast Suns, Rodney Eade has been appointed coach of Eastern Football League club Balwyn.
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Eade, who departed the Suns after three difficult seasons in charge at the club, was confirmed as previous coach Marty Pask's replacement at Balwyn on Saturday.
The former Swans and Bulldogs coach has overseen 377 AFL games as a coach and despite a poor record on the Gold Coast boasts a win percentage of 49 percent.
Balwyn, known as the Tigers, reached the finals in 2017 under Pask and Eade is eager to give back to a club that has a special place in his family's hearts.
"I am passionate about coaching and the opportunity to continue my coaching career at Balwyn, where my sons have played, is an opportunity to give back to the football community," Eade is quoted as saying by the club.
"I am looking forward to working with this highly successful community club."
The surprise appointment is one the club themselves are clearly very excited about.
"This is one of those unique circumstances where a community club has the opportunity to bring in a person who has coached at the highest level for over 16 years," club president Richard Wilson said.
AS A RESULT,BALWYN FC IS EXTREMELY PLEASED TO ANNOUNCE THE APPOINTMENT OF RODNEY EADE AS THE SENIOR COACH FOR 2018. IN ANNOUNCING THIS APPOINTMENT, EADE SAID: “I AM PASSIONATE ABOUT COACHING AND THE OPPORTUNITY TO CONTINUE MY COACHING CAREER AT BALWYN, WHERE MY SONS HAVE PLAYED
— Balwyn Football Club (@BalwynFC) January 19, 2018
