Former South Adelaide skipper Brad Crabb announced as player/coach for Cove in 2020
Just two days after playing his last SANFL game for the Panthers, an ex-captain was announced as new coach of a Southern Football League team.
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Former South Adelaide captain Brad Crabb will coach a Southern Football League team next season after hanging up his SANFL boots.
Crabb, who played 215 league games for the Panthers, retired after South’s clash against the Crows last Saturday.
On Monday, Cove announced Crabb as its new A grade coach for 2020.
Crabb replaces ex-Cobras mentor Brett Baldey who held the reins for the past four seasons and led Cove to an eighth-place finish this campaign with a 1-15 record.
Crabb, 32, will also pull on the boots for the Cobras next season, taking on a player/coach role.
Crabb, who played about seven A grade games with the Cobras in 2007, said he wanted to help Cove become a powerhouse club again after last winning an SFL flag in 2008.
“When I left the club it was a bit of a powerhouse and playing finals football,” Crabb said.
“To see it now struggling down the bottom I see it as an opportunity to get them back up to where they should be.
“I’ll be bringing in some structures and disciplines with a bit of leadership as well.
“Hopefully I’ll bring a couple of people back in to the club who have left or some new players to help with the talent.
“But generally it will be about bringing in structures in and also trying to get the boys a bit fitter and trying to make them enjoy their footy so they want to work and train harder.”
The ex- key defender was lured to South from Kangaroo Island Football League’s Western Districts in 2003 and made his league debut against Central District in round 20, 2007.
He then went to captain South from 2015-2017.
Although the Panthers sent Crabb and retiring teammate Nick Liddle off with a win, beating the Crows by seven points, they missed the finals as other results did not fall their way.
“It was emotional (but) fitting because at least we won,” Crabb said.
“A couple of minutes after when I realised we weren’t playing finals that’s when it sunk in.
“I’m happy with the way South’s moving and I’m happy with my decision (to retire).”
Baldey, meanwhile, who also coached Cove’s senior women’s team this year and ran Auskick sessions at the club, said the time was right for a new voice.
He was unsure if he would continue as the women’s coach next year.
“I didn’t think it was right for me to continue, I think they needed to look outside the square,” Baldey said.
“I’m more than comfortable that I’m not going to coach them next year.
“They need someone to come in with a fresh message and fresh ideas to try and spark the playing group and get people in.”
