Double Blues premiership coach Martin Mattner has quit Sturt for the Adelaide Crows
ADELAIDE Football club have moved on Sturt premiership coach Martin Mattner after the Double Blues were knocked out of the SANFL finals on Sunday.
DUAL Sturt premiership coach Martin Mattner has quit the club to join the Adelaide Crows.
Mattner told the Double Blues players after yesterday’s first semi-final loss to North Adelaide that he would be joining the Crows.
Mattner, 36, spent three years at the Double Blues, leading them to premierships in 2016 and 2017 and fourth this year.
He is expected to be a named a defensive coach with the Crows.
Crows head of football Brett Burton said on the club’s website they were thrilled to secure the services of a highly sought after coach like Mattner.
“As a player and coach, Marty knows what it takes to achieve the ultimate success,” Burton said. “Not only is he a quality person but he has a proven record of helping young and experienced players alike improve their games.
“His positive influence at Sturt stretched beyond the League side to the Reserves and juniors, and we look forward to him joining our coaching department.”
Assistant coach Ben Hart has also committed to the Club for 2019 with Adelaide still in the process of finalising its coaching panel.
Sturt emailed its members today informing them of Mattner’s move.
“Marty Mattner has advised the club of his decision to step down from the position of senior coach after accepting an assistant coaching position with Adelaide Football Club,’’ Sturt’s statement read.
“In his three years as senior coach, Marty has proven to be an outstanding leader and mentor, taking the club from eighth position to three league finals series and two premierships. “Throughout the club Marty’s influence has set in place the highest standards and a robust culture ensuring his legacy will continue.
“From the board, management, staff, volunteers and players we sincerely wish Marty, his wife Chelsea and two sons all the very best for the future.
“We now embark on finding his replacement. The board will implement the process it used when identifying Marty as senior coach.’’
A former Sydney and Adelaide player, Mattner had made no secret of his desire to return to the AFL in a coaching capacity.
He told The Advertiser last month that Sturt was aware that he is ready to return to the AFL after last being a development coach with the Swans in 2015 — a club where he was a premiership player in 2012.
“Sturt has been really good,’’ said Mattner, whose coaching resume is outstanding.
“I’ve been really open and honest with them and they’ve been open and honest with me.
“I’ve been at Sturt for three years and I’ve learnt a lot, it’s been a really good experience.’’
Mattner, who started his league football career at Sturt and played 98 games for Adelaide from 2002-07 and 124 with Sydney from 2008-13, passed up a job as a development coach at Port Adelaide last year.
He coached the SA State team against WA this season and appears destined to coach an AFL club in his own right once he adds to his coaching portfolio.