Noarlunga premiership coach Trevor Mitton takes Southern Football League job at Aldinga

Noarlunga premiership coach Trevor Mitton has taken over at Aldinga after Damian Smith walked out on the club on Saturday and is urging the SFL community to back the battling Sharks.

Trevor Mitton coaching Noarlunga in 2015. The premiership mentor has taken the job at battling Aldinga. Picture: Naomi Jellicoe

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Noarlunga premiership coach Trevor Mitton has taken over at Aldinga after Damian Smith walked out on the club on Saturday and is urging the Southern Football League community to back the battling Sharks.

Mitton took training at Aldinga Oval on Tuesday night just three days after Smith resigned in the change rooms following a 166-point loss to Christies Beach.

Mitton will coach the Sharks for the remainder of 2019 with a decision on a long-term appointment to be made following the season.

“Aldinga is trying, we know inside we need a lot of work but we want people to back us, rather than hinder us,” said Mitton, who led Noarlunga to SFL flags in 2001 and 2014.

“I want to be part of helping one of our southern clubs be in the right area and progressing in their footy to maintain the strength of our league.

“Hopefully we can get stronger and be part of a stronger league in the near future.”

A frustrated Trevor Mitton coaching Noarlunga in 2015 during the preliminary final loss to Brighton, his last match in charge of the Shoes. Picture: Dean Martin

Damian Smith, pictured after he was named Aldinga coach in 2014, left the Sharks after five seasons at the helm. Picture: Naomi Jellicoe

Mitton, who last coached at Noarlunga in 2015 before spending two years as Shoes president, was approached by Aldinga and the SFL to take the job.

“Three days ago coaching wasn’t even in my brain ... I’ve officially been there only two hours, at training last night,” he said.

“First and foremost it’s going to be about how they go about their football – and I’m not just talking about how they play on a Saturday, that’s a long-term solution there – it’s probably more about the day-to-day runnings of the football department.

“Realistically I’ve been asked to go in and give some direction based on the experience I’ve had over the years.”

Mitton’s first game in charge will be at home this Saturday against fourth-placed Port Noarlunga.

The Noarlunga life member will face the Shoes for the first time in round six and said he hoped to give his old club a “hard time”, despite still calling it his “home”.

Former Sharks coach Smith told Messenger Community News on Sunday he was not happy with the lack of communication and resources he said the club had promised but not delivered.

He said the big loss to Christies Beach, which left the club with a 0-2 record, had no bearing on his decision to pull the pin.

Aldinga president Danny Wilde said he does not think the club could have had a better result following Smith’s sudden exit.

“To be able to get someone of Trevor Mitton’s calibre and experience come in and to take over in our situation ... I think it’s terrific and shows the strength of the club,” Wilde said.

“There was a lot of phone calls and a mentally draining time for myself but it gave me a lot of confidence in where we are as a footy club, even though the results aren’t there.

“We’ve got some work to do. The results in the coming weeks probably won’t be a true reflection of what’s going on, we’ve got to support Trevor and give him time.

“I think Trevor is a really good fit and we’re very grateful for him jumping in and taking it on.”

Aldinga has had five coaches in the past 10 years and has won just 15 games in that time.

In 2014, they gained national media attention after sacking their coach following a 300-point defeat and later when ex-Hawthorn star Shane Crawford played a one-off game for the battling club.

Last season the Sharks finished bottom of the ladder with a 1-15 record and an average losing margin of 98 points.

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