The club has managed to retain senior coach Alex Hay.
Brendan East will be his new assistant coach, helping Hay and the senior group to improve on this season’s results.
The seniors made it to finals in 2025, but bowed out in the preliminary final.
Aiming to go further next season, Hay will again lead the senior football group in what the club have said is set to be his seventh and last season in the role.
He has been head coach of the Rovers’ senior side since 2019.
Meanwhile, the addition of East to the senior coaching ranks after many years coaching junior sides will add an extra level of insight to spur on the Rovers.
Club spokesperson Josh Bode said the club was excited to announce the senior football coaching combination.
“Hayzie was a bit in the air, but the club has spoken with him, and we’re really pleased to have him return,” Bode said.
“It allows the group to try one more time to make that push and keep the group together.”
Bode said East brings plenty of local footy experience to the assistant coaching role.
“Brendan has coached our under-17s, including to a premiership a few years ago.
“He’s well-experienced and has played seniors at Rams and Rovers, and has won best and fairests in the reserves at Rovers.
“He’s a great guy to have around the club, and a guy that could easily step into a senior coaching role.
“What he also brings is professional commitment, as he is a footy nut.
“Both coaches bring that increased professionalism which we’ll be looking for from our senior footballers and trying to bring next season.”
The announcement also begins a transition for the club, being Hay’s final year in the senior coaching role at Rovers.
“The club is on a look-out for a senior coach for after 2026, and have started that process,” Bode said.
“Hayzie has made that commitment to us that this will be his last season, and we’re incredibly grateful for that to help us with a successful transition.
“The club is looking for someone suitable ahead of 2027 to carry on the culture that he’s helped create and setup to what its got currently.”
In the final year of his service as senior football head coach, the club is hoping the side can pay back Hay’s commitment and loyalty to the club, Bode said.
“Hayzie has been in the role for seven years, and in that time he’s had a number of opportunities to leave Rovers and get senior coaching roles elsewhere, whether at GV, O&M or even VFL level.
“We hope the playing group gives everything that the coaches need ahead of his last season.
“Hayzie and the club are hoping to go one better and get the opportunity to play in a grand final.”
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