A decade on from joining the Saints’ ranks as player coach, Hoggan assumes senior coaching duties in 2022 alongside 2021 thirds coach Tim Cooper — and for the former there is a debt to settle.
“I’ve always had a family connection with Berrigan; my mum’s uncle Brian Dorman was a great player and an advocate to get me back playing at Berrigan in some sort of capacity,” Hoggan said.
That’s Brian Dorman of Pies fame, the one and only “Horse” who played 51 games in the VFL despite battling various injuries throughout his career.
Dorman convinced Hoggan to suit up in Saints colours 10 years ago — and before his death, Berrigan’s newest mentor made a promise he wishes to fulfill in the coming seasons.
“In 2012 Brian was diagnosed with cancer, so I then confirmed I was coming back to play and ended up being the senior coach for two years,” Hoggan said.
“I always told him I was going to win the club a flag; in 2012 we were runners-up when Jerilderie beat us, the following year we finished third and had some key injuries coming into finals.
“I moved on after that, I was approached by Wangaratta Magpies to be a playing assistant coach there.
“This time around we’re going to be around the mark and will be aiming for a top four finish — we’ll set out our procedures to be very competitive and take what comes to us at finals.”
Berrigan’s prosperity in the early 2010s was spearheaded by Hoggan’s coaching capabilities.
His second-in-command during those years? None other than Cooper.
“Tim was my assistant coach back in 2012-13, he’s been back at the club a number of years and is stepping up from coaching thirds this year,” Hoggan said.
“Senior coaching is something he’s strived for, so it will be a joint partnership for this year and moving forward.”
As a strong advocate for utilising Berrigan’s homegrown crop of players, Hoggan noted the transition from off-season to pre-season would be spent trying to rope back in former denizens to pull on the boots.
“The off-season is going to be about structuring a senior list and cementing our playing groups together,” he said.
“We have a number of young fellas who have departed the club that moved to Melbourne, that’ll be our key focus in getting them back full-time.
“I’ve always been a supporter of local players in country footy, especially with the two years we’ve had and, so, it’s really about making sure we get our locals back to support the club on and off the field.”
Hoggan is big on restoring Berrigan back to its “renowned position”, and as it stands, his and Cooper’s mission is in full swing.
But while on track, it’s far from finished.
He mentioned a lack of squad depth had hindered the Saints’ success in years past and with plenty of time until round one, the pair is out to remedy that.
“Everything is looking positive at the moment, now it’s about consolidating a good-sized player list and making sure we have depth,” he said.
“One thing we have lacked for a number of years now is when we start getting injuries, it makes it hard and puts pressure on the twos.
“We’re not just thinking about the seniors, but the club as a whole and making sure we’re competing for spots in both grades.”
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