Now, returning as head coach, Lamont hopes to secure a second flag.
“The years I spent at Werribee were critical in my development as a player and later as a coach and they really help me with my work in the football industry,” Lamont explained.
“In a lot of ways, it’s been great to be able to give something back and now I have a real opportunity as coach to drive some more success.”
A development coach at North Melbourne for the past seven years, Lamont assumed control of the Tigers following the departure of Scott West at the end of the 2013 season.
“I knew, most likely, the coaching position was going to become available. I had a bit of a chat to the club early on when it became clear that Westy wasn’t going to continue. They interviewed half-a-dozen candidates and it just sort of happened. I was really pleased to get the gig.”
Lamont had just finished up at Aegis Park, but didn’t have to wait long to land on his feet again.
“There was only a couple of weeks really that I was out of a job in footy but I was still in the process of finishing things off at North Melbourne. It’s been a nice, clean transition and I don’t think it could have worked out any better.
“I spent seven-years with the Kangas, Brad (Scott) was really supportive of me continuing at Werribee and coaching the North players. I will still come into the club for half a day every week to do some tech-skills and liaise with the assistants. It should also make the transition for the North boys even easier because we already have a relationship.
“In the past, the Werribee coaching position has changed from Simon Atkins, Paul Satterly and Scott West, so the players have had to get to know a new coach every few years. This time, it’s a new coach again, but everyone except the draftees, already know me. Hopefully it will be seamless.”
Lamont wants to focus on the big picture, stay connected with the community and continue to reach out to the locals.
“Werribee needs to be a relevant component of the VFL competition and relevant in our part of town for the long-term. If we have all those things in place, winning games will look after itself.”
Another primary aim with be reducing the list-turnover from year-to-year.
“Unfortunately at this level, turnover is around 50 per cent each year. Young players now expect things to happen quicker and there’s less perseverance than before. I want to change that attitude and hopefully start to bring down that turnover rate to about 40 per cent as a start. That’s one of my little objectives.”
Lamont doesn’t expect too much change for the North players and their affiliations despite the AFL club also having an alignment with North Ballarat.
“ Historically we haven’t moved blokes around from year to year unless there’s been a strong need or requirement. My initial look at it; I don’t think there’s a need but I can’t speak for North Ballarat.
“You don’t want to muck around with the players’ connections to their VFL alignments and the connection supporters have developed with those players over the years.
“Tossing them around would compromise the dual-alignment set-up I think.”
With Werribee’s pre-season underway, Lamont has a raft of coaching experience to fall back on. Before his time at North Melbourne, he’d Ringwood, Caulfield, Oakley Chargers and the Eastern Ranges.
“I have held coaching roles before so I’m excited to be back doing that. I’ve always been big on creating a real club environment and making sure everyone is working together.”
