Adelaide Footy League club Payneham Norwood Union announces Jeremy Cini as its new coach
A powerhouse Adelaide Footy League club has revealed who will take the helm next season – and the new coach says it is right on the cusp of a flag.
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A division one premiership remains well and truly in reach for Adelaide Footy League powerhouse Payneham Norwood Union, according to its new coach Jeremy Cini.
The defeated top flight grand finalists revealed on Monday that Cini would take over from the departed Jace Bode at the helm of the Falcons next season.
PNU made the division one decider last month in Bode’s second year in charge but went down to premier Prince Alfred Old Collegians.
Cini arrives at the Falcons following a successful two seasons as a league assistant at Woodville-West Torrens, helping the Eagles to back-to-back SANFL flags.
He previously coached Old Ignatians from division three to two and spent time as an assistant at Norwood.
Cini said the chance to take over at PNU was exciting and he hoped to take the club one step further in 2022.
“The opportunity came up at Payneham and, for me, I look at it from afar and Payneham’s list is probably the most exciting list in division one,” Cini said.
“They felt they had a pretty good shot at it this year but given the way PAC put their group together, Payneham just wasn’t able to get over them.
“They’re very much thinking that there’s a list there that can actually win the premiership, which I agree with as well.
“We’ll have a couple of guys come in to top up the list and we’ll lose a couple, but it will be a strong group.”
A grade best and fairest and leading goal kicker Liam Davis is one Falcon who won’t go on next season.
But Payneham – traditionally a strong recruiting club as well as its productive junior program – is likely to add some more pieces to its playing list.
Cini also hoped his time in the SANFL system and experience at a successful program in the Eagles under coach Jade Sheedy would bring benefits to PNU.
“I’ve loved the Eagles – it’s been the best footy club I’ve worked at – Jade and the club have created a pretty good culture and list there,” he said
“So I was sad to go but it was purely based around the time requirements involved, which were just becoming a bit too much with to manage with two young kids.”
Cini was also looking forward to taking on his former club Old Ignatians, which has been promoted to division one next season for the first time in its history.
“I originally brought (Iggies coach) Damian Boots across as my assistant before I went to Norwood … and a lot of the guys playing in his group came into the team while I was coaching,” he said.
“I’ve still got really good relationships with all of those boys and it will feel a little bit funny when we roll up against them, but it should be good.”
Cini is the second new coach to be announced at a division one club this month.
Port District appointed former West Adelaide assistant Josh Ramsey as its 2022 mentor last week.
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