With some of the biggest news to rock the Canterbury Australian football league with Paddy Smith,leaving cross town rivals The Christchurch Bulldogs to join the Mid Canterbury Eagles in the off season.
For those that do not know, Paddy’s experience speaks for itself. Hailing originally from Ireland playing his first A grade match as a 14-year-old with a local div2 GAA club playing 10 years as a midfielder saw Paddy elevated to playing County level football. Not to stagnate, moving to Melbourne at age 24 Paddy found himself excelling and crossing codes to AFL playing under Division 1 powerhouse Mordialloc FC in the SNL. The eagles look forward to Paddy’s voice and physical dominance to assist head coach Adem Manderovic on and off the pitch. Paddy states the main reasons for joining the eagles “To challenge myself in a young and up and coming side where I can pass some experience to the midfield and across half back”.
Adem Manderovic returns to the helm as Head Coach, for those who do not know Adem’s playing and coaching athletic history is extensive. Playing representative football since age 11 for SA country state, playing in the SANFL junior system, while juggling SASSI requirements for Athletics team 100m, 200m and long jump at a national level, and playing country state basketball on exchange in the united states and state level basketball in ABA for South Adelaide.
Before finally making the jump to training with AFL’s Carlton’s reserve side (VFL) from 2003 -2006 under coach Barry Mitchell. Having suffered a broken back, hip, pelvis, wrist, and both legs in a major accident in 2006 Adem turned to coaching in his home state of SA in 2012. Whilst still recovering, Adem took Div1 Powerhouse Club Tea Tree Gully District Football Club, from last position to a flag the year after.
Since being in New Zealand, Adem has coached kids’ kiwi kick for two seasons whilst coaching the very young eagles side, assisted in AFLNZ Academy sessions, coached AFLNZ Youth and more recently coached along side arguably the best ever player from New Zealand James Bowden at the Northern Suns in the AFLNZ Premiership season. Adem now looks forward to his hard work with the very young eagles side of the past two years now coming to fruition.
With further exciting news to come from extensive off field work completed by both President Ricky Van Olphen and Vice President and Head Coach Adem Manderovic, along with some key signings to the young talents squad, the eagles look to be a force in this years competition in Canterbury.
Last Modified on 30/07/2019 19:29