IT WAS a burning desire to coach and the need for a fresh start that lured premiership forward Luke Webb away from The Rock-Yerong Creek.
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After six years playing for the Farrer League club, Webb has left Victoria Park to take on the main gig at AFL Canberra division three club Cootamundra.
"I always wanted to coach," he said.
"I tried a few times but it always sort of fell through."
Webb put his name forward on the Footy Recruits website and was soon contacted by the Blues.
Conveniently, he had just bought a house in Junee and started a new job at the jail.
"I'm about halfway between Coota and Wagga so it works out pretty well," Webb said.
"To go straight into a head coaching job is not a bad way to start."
Webb had endured an emotional year with TRYC, with the sudden deaths of two of the club's players sending the entire community into shock.
But he enjoyed one of his best seasons on the paddock, leading the Magpies to a grand final appearance and winning the league goal kicking award for the year.
He says he is grateful for his time at the club which was highlighted by a Farrer League premiership in 2011.
Webb admitted it was a hard decision to walk away.
"It wasn't something I took lightly, I have made a lot of good friends at The Rock," he said.
"But last year I became so emotionally involved and it drained me a little bit.
"I wanted to freshen up and try something new."
Webb has already enticed former Magpies ruckman Luke Salter to join him at Cootamundra.
The Blues finished seventh last season and Webb's sole focus is leading the team to finals in 2014.
Webb is hoping to get a full season in himself, despite waiting to serve a six-week suspension hanging over his head from the infamous grand final brawl in September.
He has spent the past couple of months travelling to Darwin in the hope of serving it during the summer season.
But, according to AFL Riverina, under rule 19.4.4b in the Laws of the Game, the suspension must be served during a winter season.
Webb is hopeful the AFL Canberra officials will allow him to play round 1.