Sturt premiership star Byron Sumner announced as new Aldinga coach for 2021 SFL season
A Sturt premiership star and ex-AFL listed player will coach Southern Football League club Aldinga in 2021, while his brother and former Gold Coast Sun will also line up in the side.
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Byron Sumner has plenty of life experience.
And the former Sydney, Woodville-West Torrens and Sturt player is set on helping other young, rising footballers reach their full potential through coaching.
Sumner, who last month retired from the SANFL after four seasons with Sturt, will coach Aldinga in the 2021 Southern Football League season.
Sumner will be a playing coach with the perennial battlers and says he is looking forward to taking on the role.
“Coaching had sort of been on my radar for the past two or three years,” Sumner, of Prospect, said.
“At Sturt, especially this year, we had such a young group and that’s when I really thought ‘yep, I want to coach’.
“Speaking with younger players and trying to teach them structures, why we stand in a certain position, or why we move the ball like that, really made me think it was something I wanted to do.”
Aldinga opted out of fielding an A grade side this SFL season, citing ongoing concerns about the health of volunteers, an inability to cope with strict COVID-19 restrictions and a lack of senior players.
The Sharks did line up in the B grade and finished the campaign fourth with an 8-3 record, before crashing out in the preliminary final with a loss to Noarlunga.
Sumner, who works as a case manager for Aboriginal prisoners, says getting players to return to the Sharks to ensure an A grade team is fielded in 2021 is the number one priority.
“I’m pretty excited,” Sumner said.
“Unfortunately they didn’t field an A grade side (this year) so straight off the bat we’ll be starting pre-season nice and early, getting players keen and then go from there.
“I’ve kind of looked at it in terms of giving them (Aldinga) a structure and method they can sustain.
“It’ll be more about development and helping put stuff in place to give their young players the tools where if they want to play AFL or SANFL footy.
“If we win, amazing, but I am certainly not putting any high expectations on it.”
Sumner’s brother and ex-Gold Coast Sun, Tim, has also signed with the Sharks as a playing assistant coach.
“Me and Tim played two league games together at the Eagles but we’ve never played a full season together,” Sumner said.
“We always said we have to play a season together and when I announced my retirement, he pretty much said to me ‘wherever you go, I’ll go.
“Tim is also quite versatile, too, so he can play anywhere on the oval which is good.
“I’ve had experience playing all positions and we are looking at three other recruits who can also play multiple positions.”
Sumner was selected by Sydney at the 2009 AFL National draft, played one game for the Swans but was unable to cope with the pressure and demands at the top level so returned home in 2011.
He then spiralled into a deep, dark depression but with the help of his Nan, Jane Nelson, he picked himself up and went on to play 54 SANFL games with Sturt, including the 2017 flag win against Port Adelaide.
Sumner said the time was right to hang up the boots and would always cherish his campaigns with the Double Blues.
“I’ve got my son, Chays who is six on Thursday, so he can start playing footy next year.
“I have great memories of the premiership and it’s something I’ll always hold close to my heart.”