Junee Jaguars will lose their coach and a loyal player due to a series of unfortunate events.
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Jaguars’ coach and goalkeeper Isaac Cooper, 27, played through injury when they lost ex-keeper Robert Fry to the Wagga City Wanderers in late June.
By August, he was sick of it.
“I hurt one of my shoulders, badly,” he said.
“Having three days off work, and three physio appointments so that I could play the next weekend was a big ask, on myself, my body, and also, my life.
“Until I can go to work comfortably and not be in pain for a whole season, I’ve decided I need to step away.”
Cooper coached the Jaguars to their maiden Pascoe Cup premiership in 2015; an emotional victory for the one-club player who started as a Junee junior at six.
It took Cooper, who was entrusted with the coaching role in his early 20s, three seasons to build to a premiership.
Until I can go to work comfortably and not be in pain for a whole season, I’ve decided I need to step away.
- Outgoing Jaguars men's coach Isaac Cooper
“It was a bit daunting, as a younger coach, to throw your hand up to coach all these guys you've idolised as a junior,” he said.
“It’s something I really enjoyed, I’ve made some great friendships.
“All of the blokes out at Junee are pretty easy to get on with, there are never any dramas.”
Fellow Junee stalwarts Jason Mutimer, Scott Mutimer and Ray Jones have supported Cooper from the outset.
Martin Bushby and Lachlan Bushby were sources of inspiration for Cooper.
“Martin, he’s one of the best talents that’s gone around in Wagga, and his brother, Lachlan,” he said.
Cooper will hang up the boots for a season, but chances are, he’ll be back in the years to come.
“I can’t rule out a return, but when you can’t lift your hands above your head it’s not enjoyable,” he said.
“I only just got back to having full movement in my arms.”
Cooper will play cricket for Lake Albert in the off-season.
“That’s my main sport,” he said. “I live to play cricket. I didn't play last year.”
This year was not as successful as Cooper would have liked, the club backing up its premiership season with a seventh-placed finish.
But it was always going to be a struggle for the local side, which lost a string of premiership players and battled with injury all season.
The club has now been set the task of recovering from another significant series of departures, including Cooper and Travis Weir.
The latter plans on moving back to Wagga United.
