We would like to welcome Craig Hewat to the Senior/First Grade Coach position for 2013. Craig is a highly motivated AFL coach with previous experience as a Reserve Grade coach with Newcastle City and extensive experience as a player having played at a senior level in the Latrobe Valley Football League in Country Victoria, with Parade College in the Amateur League in metropolitan Melbourne, East Sydney in the Sydney AFL, Newcastle City in the BDAFL and more recently with Vietnam in the Asian Football League.
Craig also has extensive experience in the AFL as an administrator having worked with the Melbourne Football Club as a trainer in 1989, fitness advisor for the Fitzroy U19s in 1990, fitness advisor with Springvale in the VFA in 1991, as a fitness/rehabilitation coach with the Sydney Swans under Garry Buckenara in 1992 and then Ron Barassi in 1993.
Craig has qualifications in human movement and exercise and sports science with a strong focus on AFL. He also has extensive experience in training and development of people from children right through to adults.
We have already seen Craig’s enthusiasm and experience have a positive influence on the club and look forward to him taking our playing and coaching group to new heights in the coming season.
We are also pleased with the appoint of Craig’s assistants appointed in the following roles:
Reserve Grade Coach and Assistant Reserve Grade Coach - Mark Wheeler and Bruce McQualter
Both Mark and Bruce are long time Blues players and club members with great passion for our club and the game of AFL. Mark has risen from the juniors to be a member of the senior player leadership group over the past few years and then coach of the Thirds last season. Mark will be a playing coach with Bruce providing the valuable sideline aspect to the role.
Bruce brings a wealth of local club and general AFL club development experience to the role. We look forward to Mark and Bruce adding to the strength of the reserves in the First Division competition and working with Craig to develop all of our playing group.
Third Grade Coach and Assistant Third Grade Coach - Shaun “Irish” O’Leary and Nathan Wilmott
Irish is relatively new to the club but has had a big impact in a short time. He brings significant playing experience to the role, having played previously in the Eastern Football League and then Yarra Valley Mountain Districts League in Melbourne. Shaun was selected for the Eastern Ranges (TAC Cup) U18 squad in 1999 and achieved a number of accolades at club level. He was an integral part of the Third Grade team last season and also played Reserve Grade and assisted coaching staff with mentoring of new players. Irish is a keen club man and is noted for the creation of the “Thirds Grandstand”, which added to the social aspect of the club last season.
Irish will be a playing coach and assisted by Nathan Wilmott as the sideline coach. Nathan has risen from early juniors through all levels of the playing group and is a dedicated club man from a dedicated club family. He brings a lot of local playing experience to the role and will be an excellent fit with Irish in this role.
Last Modified on 11/04/2013 21:54