Mark Stone Departs Glenelg

By ZAC MILBANK

Glenelg premiership coach Mark Stone is departing Brighton Road after accepting a role with AFL club Brisbane.

Stone, who guided the Bays to their breakthrough flag in 2019, will be a senior assistant to Lions coach Chris Fagan after the departure of GM of Football David Noble to North Melbourne triggered a late restructure.

”Whilst our members and fans will be disappointed with losing our 2019 premiership winning coach at the commencement of our 2021 campaign, Mark has left a legacy at our club that will transcend his time here,” Glenelg Chief Executive Justin Scripps said.

”Mark has provided our playing group with real clarity on what a high performing environment looks like and the values that will help continue to build our culture.”

The former Sydney, West Coast and Fremantle assistant coach will now rejoin AFL ranks after guiding the Bays to their first League flag since 1986.

“I’d like to thank the Glenelg Football Club for giving me the opportunity to be their Senior Coach for the past three years,” said Stone.

”Together, we’ve experienced some tough times and also the highest of highs the game has to offer and this experience has been extremely fulfilling.

”My family and I have always felt a sense of belonging here and we’ve forged some great working relationships, strong friendships and personal bonds that will remain long into the future.

”I would like to wish the players and the club every success in the future and hope that they can again taste the ultimate success in their 100^th year.”

Joining the Tigers late in 2017 following the sudden vacancy left by Matthew Lokan heading to Port Adelaide, Stone was at the helm for three seasons from 2018 to 2020.

Stone’s run of success started when Glenelg won its final six matches of 2018 to narrowly miss a spot in the major round, finishing sixth with a 9-9 win-loss record.

This laid the foundation for the club’s premiership year, in which the Bays were placed minor premier before landing their fifth League premiership on the back of a 15-4-2 record.

The Tigers participated in this year’s finals series after placing fourth, only to succumb to South Adelaide in the First Semi-Final, leaving Stone with an impressive overall record of 33-18-2 across his three-year tenure.