AUSTRALIAN FOOTBALL
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The Maitland Saints kick off their debut Black Diamond AFL first division season with pre-season training tonight under new senior playing coach Rob Eddy.
The Saints stunned the local Aussie rules community when they made the second division grand final in their debut year, going down by 13 points to a Warners Bay outfit boosted by the return of several first division players.
The Saints’ debut-season coach Steve Mitchell will remain involved in the club in a managerial and possible match-day role.
It will be Eddy’s first senior coaching appointment but he has a wealth of experience as a player and in assistant coaching roles including coaching at the Sydney Swans Academy, time as an AFL development officer and most recently as captain and assistant coach at Coffs Harbour Swans.
A member of the 2006 Pennant Hills premiership team in the Sydney AFL competition, Eddy is a 190cm key position player and has moved to Maitland to teach at East Maitland Public School.
“I had last year pretty much off after starting with Cardiff two years ago, but injuring my ankle in the first match,” Eddy said yesterday.
“I’ve bought a house in the area and wanted to be part of the local football scene and when the Saints approached me about coaching the new first division side I jumped at it after letting Cardiff know about my plans.”
Loyalty is a key plank in Eddy’s plans to develop the club from local juniors, AFL ex-pats who have moved to the Maitland area and younger players moving across to Aussie rules from other codes and sports.
“I think it is vital to build a local identity for the club with players part of this community,” he said.
“You can try to recruit players from other clubs to try to bolster your ranks, but it has no longevity as they will move on for better offers.
“And we don’t have the money to be spending on recruiting players.
“The Saints’ junior club has gone from strength to strength and I agree with their philosophy that the senior teams are a stepping stone for those youngsters coming through.
“The young blokes they blooded last year did a great job. I know (co-captain) Mark Curran and went along for a couple of training runs last year and I just couldn’t believe how powerfully Patty McMahon was drilling the ball on his left.
“I think we will see big things from him this year playing on either the wing or half-back and drilling the ball forward.
“Young Conor Haswell is a natural goal sneak. He knows how to position himself to crumb the ball and like Pat will be a key part of the club as he gains experience and adds a bit of weight.”
With the Saints fielding division one and two teams this year, the club will have up to 70 players on their list. At this stage all of last year’s squad, apart from full-forward Scott McLarty - who has retired but will remain part of the club - will be returning.
The club also will be fielding an under-17 team on senior game days.
Pre-season training will be held at Johnston Reserve, on Mount Pleasant Street, behind the Maitland Hospital on Tuesday and Thursdays from 6pm
