Timboon Demons are hunting for a new senior coach after Dennis Hobbs stepped down to focus on his job after one season at the helm.
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Hobbs signed with the club in January and led the side to two wins from 11 games. The Demons finished ninth in a COVID-interrupted 2021 Warrnambool and District league season.
The Horsham Saints reserves premiership-winning coach cited work commitments, which he expects to ramp up next year, as the reason behind his decision.
He said he was open to offering a helping hand to the club's new senior coach but couldn't fully commit to the top position. He said the club was looking for a playing coach.
Hobbs, who relocated to Timboon in 2019 from the Wimmera, said it had been a tough season due to multiple coronavirus lockdowns.
"It was hard to get into the swing of it," he said. "We didn't start too bad but then we had a break and weren't winning and it was hard going after that.
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"We had some bad injuries to Tomas Lindquist and Sam Newey (ribs) and we couldn't afford that. We were improving for a little while but it was a struggle and it was obvious."
Hobbs said the Demons were on the right track with a number of the club's young players showing positive signs.
He said he enjoyed watching the likes of Lindquist, Rhys Ziegelaar, Connor Cardwell and Jordan Fowler improve throughout the season.
Hobbs admitted the side needed to bolster its engine room.
"They need a experienced head to get the ball out of the middle as they have a young crew in there and they can't just rely on 'Barney' (Marcus Hickey)," he said.
"They need people on the ground and it would be a nice luxury to put Barney forward. They also need some engine room players that can win that ball."
Hobbs' two wins in charge of the Timboon Demons came against Dennington.
The Demons defeated the Dogs by 49 points to give Hobbs his first win as coach in round two and beat them again by 26 points in round 11.
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