Newtown and Chilwell has appointed dual VFL premiership player Jacob Spolding as its coach for next season.
Spolding, who was assistant coach at the club last season and is the brother of Eagles defender Nick, has stepped into the senior roll to replace Simon Sutterby.
The 28 year old said he had always planned to get into coaching once his VFL days with North Ballart were over. "I was lucky enough to be assistant coach at the club last year and I learnt a lot from that." Spolding said yesterday. "As soon as the senior coaching spot opened up I looked to get into it.
"I came back to Newtown & Chilwell for a number of reasons. One was to develop my coaching aspirations and the other was to play with my brother, which was a pleasing thing to do. We hadn't played much together so that was great and also just to come back and play in an environment that was a really good one like Newtown & Chilwell is.
Spolding said the fact that Newtown and Chilwell's reserves and under 18 teams played off in grand finals this season was a positive sign for the future.
"Obviously there are so many good young kids coming through," he said.
"I would imagine there would be between eight and twelve players coming through to play senior football and obviously we would like to improve those reserves players to make the transition to senior football as well."
The Eagles have yet to appoint an assistant coach, but will step up their search now that Spolding has signed.
The club is also seaching for a replacement for reserves coach Scott McDonald, who has stepped down but plans to remain involved in the club.
Spolding said Newtown & Chilwell, which missed the senior finals last season despite finishing strongly, was in a strong position heading into 2011. "I think for us it is a matter of believing in ourselves like we did at the end of last season," Spolding said.
"We showed we can compete with the sides above us, so we will be looking for that improvement from within the current group and also trying to pick up two or three players who can stengthen us and help us push forward into a finals like position."
Newtown & Chilwell plans to start pre-season training on November 15.
Last Modified on 11/01/2012 13:27