SOCCER
SCOTT Morrison has returned to the senior coaching role at Peninsula Strikers.
The club made the announcement late last week three days after announcing the departure of this year’s head coach Ross Walliss and assistant Ben Sharland.
Morrison returns after a three-year stint which ended in missing out on promotion in the last game of the 2025 season when Strikers drew 3-3 with Casey Comets at Centenary Park.
“This time last year we’d had three really big seasons and the emotional toll it took on me and my family was quite significant,” Morrison said.
“I didn’t have the right amount of support around me as it was only me and Paul Nott on the coaching staff.
“My family situation was a huge part of stepping down as my oldest son Archie was heavily involved with Melbourne City and it was an unknown as to how that would look for us with training commitments four days a week and games.
“It was never going to be fair to Strikers if I was so distracted and couldn’t fully give myself to the players.
“The year I’ve had away from coaching taught me a lot as I was able to step back and re-assess and fortunately the opportunity to return was there but this time round I’ve made sure that the support staff are in place otherwise it couldn’t have happened.”
Jason Symonds will assist Morrison along with Wayne “Buzzer” Gordon who will be a playing assistant.
Symonds was expected to be a leading candidate for the newly formed Rosebud United job after coaching Rosebud this year but chose Strikers instead.
“We had basically the same four guys on the coaching team at Rosebud for almost four years and I felt they needed to bring in some fresh people.
“I’m really looking forward to being back at Strikers and I’m happy to be supporting Scott.
“We’ve known each other for over 30 years.
“I’d love to think that we can bounce back but let’s see how things pan out.
“Just remember Strikers were several minutes away from State 1 then 12 months later we ended up in State 3 so things can change quite quickly.”
Morrison found following Strikers this year to be painful as much of what he’d worked on unravelled.
“It’s obviously been a really tough year for the club as a whole and it’s hard to comment from the outside.
“A lot of key players left with most going to higher leagues which is really what it’s all about.
“When we signed young players we told them we would work on developing them and if they wanted to play higher they would have our support.
“But I don’t know the ins and outs of what went wrong this year and frankly there’s no point in reflecting upon it.
“Now is the time to get on with the job at hand.”
Under Morrison Strikers consistently flirted with promotion yet he bristles at any suggestion of unfinished business.
“I don’t see it that way,” he said.
“Yes we were very close twice and it definitely took a while to get over that last day of the 2025 season but the year out I had made me realise how much I love coaching and how much love I have for Strikers.
“For me this is about stabilising the club and rebuilding to get back what we had.
“To do that we need Strikers’ people both on and off the park and the high standards that we set need to return.
“It’s stupid to say that we have to go straight back up and I think people sometimes fixate too much on that.
“Yes of course we want to win as many games as possible but we won’t be bringing in quick-fix players who want silly money – that’s how you bury a club for good.
“We want to rebuild this club with young talent who want to grow as players and represent the badge with pride and understand what it means to play for the club not only for now but for the future.
“So no it’s not unfinished business, it’s a new chapter.”
Morrison has an extensive player network built during coaching stints at Rosebud, Rosebud Heart, Somerville Eagles, Mornington and his previous spell at Strikers.
He has been busy contacting players since his re-appointment.
“I have a list of players and a squad that I want to assemble,” he said.
“There are existing boys at the club whom I’ve spoken to and have more to reach out to.
“And I’ve also spoken to some players from outside the club.
“There are some really key personnel I want to get back who I think will help us reset the standards and drive the goals.
“One of those is of course Stevie Elliott who hopefully will return on the pitch after a long recovery (from a ruptured Achilles).
“Stevie is the ultimate professional and has done everything and more to get back playing if he so chooses.”
Morrison won’t simply focus on the senior squad as there is much work to be done with the reserves squad.
Strikers reserves won the title in 2023 but this year finished last.
“That was the worst finish we’ve had in a long time and that is unacceptable.
“That reserves team has to be full of boys who want to push and push to get into the seniors and that’s how we will drive success for both teams.”
In other news Rosebud United is closing in on appointing its head coach for its inaugural season.
United is the result of a merger between Rosebud and Rosebud Heart and will take up Rosebud’s State 4 South-East position next season.
The founding executives of the new entity are Stuart Johnston (president), Rob Vosjan (vice-president), Bernadette Black (secretary), Matt Parnis (head of governance), Delvina Spizzirri (director of operations) and Stef Papaluca (director of football).
Initially seven candidates were in the frame for the senior coaching role but two dropped out of the race (one was appointed to a State 1 position).
An interview panel has assessed the candidates and it’s expected that United will announce its selection decision later this week.
United expects to field over 20 teams across its women’s and men’s senior programs and its junior boys’ and girls’ programs.
