The club could not be happier with the appointment according to president Graham Hosier.
“We were looking for a coach that had to meet our key criteria and Peter ticked all the boxes,” he said.
“Peter has had a decorated career as a player, coach and assistant coach at various levels including the highest level of AFL. He has an enormous capacity to teach our players what is required to succeed not only in football but in all facets of their life. He is a strong communicator and is looking forward to engaging the entire community.”
The much sought after German, 55, played 185 games and booted 201 goals with North Melbourne from 1984 to 1994 where he played with a number of Roos’ champions including Mark O’Donoghue, Brett McKenzie, Paul Bartlett, John Longmire and Jeff Chandler.
German also has an extensive coaching background as an assistant at Hawthorn, West Coast and Fremantle, and as a development coach with Western Bulldogs.
His record as coach includes two premierships, in 2004 and 2006, with Subiaco in the WAFL and named coach of the year with Casey Scorpions in the VFL, in 2009.
Although currently fulfilling obligations with AFL QLD in Cairns, German, a North Melbourne Life Member (1993) and AFL Victoria Life Member (2017) has wasted no time in aiming to build the Roos into a strong force in the Ovens and Murray football league.
“Peter has already started contacting our existing players,” Mr Hosier said “and we look forward to working with him to shape our list into what it needs to be to become extremely competitive.
“Peter is really well connected in the football world and we will be guided by him as to how we will build our list into a stronger position. He understands exactly where we are at as a club, and is fully aware that our players balance a number of different commitments including cricket, family and employment, as well as their football.“He is looking forward to the challenge of building the whole club and returning it to finals action as well as strengthening the depth of the club. Engaging with the entire community is high on his agenda.”
Through friendships with the Longmires and Chandlers, and playing alongside the Corowa legends, German has a close association with the Corowa area.
“Peter and wife Cath have daughters Ruby, Katie and Emma. Peter will live in the area and expects Cath to make the journey up the highway most weeks to support him and his new club as she has done for a large part of their lives,” Mr Hosier said.
“Peter loves the area and hopes to retire here when his football journey comes to an end.”
When Marc Almond advised the club in early June that he would not be able to continue as senior coach for 2021, the search for his replacement commenced.
Mr Hosier praised the club’s football department - led by vice-president Craig Spencer – for doing “an almighty job” in securing German’s signature last Saturday.
“The football department tapped into a number of strong connections including Ben Mathews, Nigel Lappin and Jake Melksham,” Mr Hosier said.
“They spoke to a lot of potential coaches who were in a diverse range of situations in regards, to where they were living, playing and even trapped, due to Covid-19.
Corowa Rutherglen Football Netball Club is working fervently to secure suitable employment for their newly appointed senior coach Peter German who is qualified in Turf Management.