Darren Glass joins Adelaide Crows as part-time coach
PHIL Walsh’s strong focus on teamwork and leadership has led to Adelaide’s prized capture of former West Coast Eagles captain Darren Glass.
PHIL Walsh’s strong focus on teamwork and leadership has led to Adelaide’s prized capture of former West Coast Eagles captain Darren Glass.
New Crows coach Walsh identified the highly-respected four-times All-Australian as the man to take the club’s leadership program to the next level and he got his much-sought-after signature.
Glass could only commit to Adelaide on a part-time basis and will continue to live in Perth as he juggles study and family commitments.
But he will spend much of the summer commuting to Adelaide in his new part-time role in the club’s leadership program with an emphasis on instilling strong leadership qualities into the Crows players.
Adelaide head of football David Noble said the players would benefit enormously from Glass’ influence.
“Darren is the type of person every organisation wants,’’ he said.
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“He is a strong leader, possessing a selfless attitude and humility. Everyone who knows Darren speaks highly of his leadership and West Coast regard him as one of their club’s most important figures of the modern era.’’
Glass, 33, played 270 games for the Eagles from 2000 to 2014 and was a premiership player in 2006. He captained the club from 2008 before retiring midway through this year. Walsh was keen to bring Glass having struck a good rapport with him when he worked as an assistant coach at West Coast from 2009-13.
Walsh is desperate to stamp an early culture imprint on his team and Glass is expected to spend much of November and December at West Lakes.
During the season he also will commute to Adelaide but much of his in-season work with the players will be done by phone or on Skype.
Glass described the Crows list as “talented’’ and said he was excited to step into a new football environment “with such a strong focus on team work’’.
Adelaide finalised Walsh’s first coaching panel with the acquisitions of Glass and former Port Adelaide forward Jarrod Cotton who has been appointed to a full-time development role and will work primarily with the Crows’ defenders.