AFL Goulburn Murray is delighted to be able to announce the coaching appointments for the newly formed Youth Academy that will commence in February 2016.
With two training bases three coaches have been appointed to oversee the Echuca program whilst, due to extra numbers and with an eye to the future, four coaches will combine to facilitate the Shepparton group.
Finley’s Damian Sexton, Shepparton Bears Legend Stephen Ash, Shepparton Swans Premiership Coach Brett Warburton and Shepparton United Junior Coach Daryl Chalcraft will be the coaching panel for Shepparton. Bendigo Pioneers Assistant Luke Moodie, Echuca’s Cameron Stewart and ex-TAC Cup and VFL player Jordan Florance will take charge in Echuca.
AFL Goulburn Murray Football Development Manager Trevor Mellington is delighted with the appointments.
"It is a fantastic outcome for the Youth of our region to be able to attract such high quality applicants to these important coaching positions" he said.
"To have such a wonderful mix of experience in terms of coaching at a high level, outstanding former players and up and coming development coaches will create the perfect coaching mix."
"We are committed to facilitating a coaching pathway as well as a development Academy for players and to have coaches involved that possess experience at TAC Cup and AFL Victoria Country level means that this experience, knowledge and passion can be shared with fellow coaches and the playing group."
Former St Kilda footballer, AFL Goulburn Murray Coach of The Year and AFL Victoria State Finalist, Damian Sexton is really looking forward to giving back to the Region’s youth.
"If I can somehow share my experience and learnings from having spent time in an elite pathway and this improves participants both as players and as young men, then that is the reward I am after" he said.
Cameron Stewart and Luke Moodie both bring TAC Cup coaching and local senior coaching experience to the program and this could prove invaluable for those players that aspire to take their playing to a higher level.
Moodie believes that the formation of the Academy is an exciting progress opportunity for all involved to be able to offer such significant development steps for players to help them follow their dreams.
"This is a great initiative from AFL Goulburn Murray and I’m really looking forward to working with the players and other coaching staff in this inaugural year" he said.
Former Shepparton player, Stephen Ash, brings an almost unparalleled playing resume to the position whilst Daryl Chalcraft provides experience as a local Shepparton DJFL coach and inter league coach. Brett Warburton masterminded the Shepparton Swans 2014 Premiership before returning to a junior coaching role in 2015. Current Echuca FNC player, Jordan Florance, has playing experience at both TAC and VFL level.
Last Modified on 14/12/2015 15:39