Albany coach Jamie Ramm excited to return to coaching duties ahead of new season

After leading Albany to a maiden Great Southern Football League premiership in 2023, much-loved league coach Jamie Ramm has signed on for another season. Ramm took charge of the Sharks in 2020 and has been an important figure in the club’s meteoric rise, leading his side to a first finals appearance in 2021 before reaching their first-ever grand final the following year. Despite being defeated by Railways in the 2022 decider, the long-suffering Sharks reversed that result to win the 2023 grand final in front of a packed crowd at Sounness Park in early September. Ramm said he was looking forward to continuing as league coach for another season as the Sharks look to build on their strong foundations. “It was probably something that I’d made a decision on before the end of this season,” he said. “Going another year sort of gives the club that stability, we’ve unfortunately only had coaches for no longer than a couple of years in the past. “For me to stay on for another year keeps it stable and then hopefully I can pass it on to someone else soon.” The soon-to-be fifth-year coach believes focusing attention across all four grades and a strong sense of cohesion within the club is integral. “We’ve got another challenge ahead of us now to make sure we stay up the top end of the ladder in all grades,” he said. “Still just having those people that we have around the club and keeping that great community we’ve got and ensuring that continues to grow. “We have to continue to keep that going so all our hard work doesn’t come undone.” Assistant coach Roy Addis will also return for another season. “It’s great that Roy (Addis) is on board too, we work very well together and get along so I’m really happy with that,” Ramm said. “It’s a long way from the new season, I don’t think we’ll lose a lot but there’s always some players that move on, we’ll see what happens.” Ramm said the club would start training in February.