Tigers appoint Para Hills saviour to coach Hermit Park back to premiership flag

A South Australian coach who raised a battling club to the flag in two seasons has been appointed to coach Hermit Park - and one position group is set to majorly benefit. Read his exclusive first interview:

Hermit Park Tigers 2025 coach Craig Forby. Picture: Supplied

A South Australian coach who raised a battling club from league laughing stock to the flag within two seasons has been appointed to lead Hermit Park into a bold new era.

Craig Forby was unveiled on Sunday night as Max Tink’s successor as Tigers coach, charged with developing a new game plan that can shake three-peat champion Thuringowa’s iron grip on the AFL Townsville trophy.

Speaking exclusively to this masthead, Forby said he was ready to bring the game plan that revolutionised Para Hills in Adelaide’s seventh division to the Tigers.

“I wanted a challenge back in Adelaide … so the last two years I was at Para Hills, where I was able to take the club from getting beaten by 100 points every week to last year (2023) finishing third, and this year both the As and Bs winning the premiership,” Forby said.

“I’m a Level 3 coach so my game plan structures, things I’m able to implement and get people to buy in and trust my process, I know that it works and I’ve proved this year that it works pretty well down to a tee.”

Para Hills key forward Daniel Weetra kicked 256 goals in two seasons under Forby, averaging 6.6 per game.

In 207 career games before Forby’s system the mid-sized forward had averaged 1.9 per game.

Daniel Weetra at the Para Hills Football Club. Pictured on 30th May 2023. Picture: Ben Clark

Forby’s vision for Hermit Park’s premiership success is built on a whole-of-ground approach, with players expected to take on expanded roles beyond traditional positional workloads.

“It’s the way we set up around the ground,” he explained.

“Zone and press, all the structures, everyone’s got a role and their role is all over the ground, not just in one position. It’s a bit of discipline and trying to help the culture, wanting people to enjoy footy because when you’re enjoying it, you play good football.

“My goal at Hermit Park is the same as when I was at Para Hills: I want to play finals, play a grand final and win a grand final.

“Finals are the ultimate goal; if you’re not wanting to play finals I won’t say you ‘shouldn’t’ be coaching, but you clearly don’t have the expectations on yourself and what you want to achieve.”

Hermit Park’s 2021 AFL Townsville Grand Final celebrations. Picture: Alix Sweeney

Forby said a change in his life circumstances had inspired his desire for a sea-change, and when he saw the opportunity to apply at the Tigers, didn’t hesitate.

Forby landed in Townsville last week and will meet players for the first time in a fortnight.

The former soldier and veteran amateur league player began coaching in 2016 as an under-18s assistant coach at Adelaide Football League division one club Broadview, eventually taking over as under-18s head coach and assisting with the club’s flagship team.

Forby joined neighbouring Plympton as B Grade head coach before guiding Brahma Lodge to the Division 7 flag.

He departed the high-flying program to rescue Para Hills after the club’s relegation from Division 6 in 2022, earning promotion in his final act with the club.

Now he hopes to lead Hermit Park on a similar charge back to its glory days.

“Hermit Park has a big history as one of the oldest clubs here in Townsville, they’ve won a lot of premierships in seniors, juniors and the women. They have a good program,” Forby said.

“They haven’t won the premiership for a few years but it’s getting back to what they know best. I think it’s a thriving club, the women are doing really well and there are some great juniors.”

Forby said his experience coaching high-level under-18s in Adelaide had prepared him well to nurture the emerging Tiger cubs who dominated the Townsville Bulletin’s Top 150 list of elite local juniors.

Hermit Park Tigers debutant Henry Stephens kicked six goals against Northern Beaches. Picture: Hermit Park Tigers

Players like Henry Stephens, Tyron Bethune, Jeremy Harding and more will find a tough but fair coach committed to helping them take the next step in their football careers, the coach said.

“Working with under-18s is about getting the best out of them. It’s communication,” Forby said.

“When they’re down you’ve got to get them up. It’s about constructive criticism: ‘You did that well but you could have done it better this way.’ It’s about getting to know them, making them want to talk to you and trust you.

“I’m excited. I’m loving it, no one knows me up here so hopefully what I can bring makes the Tigers successful this year and for years to come.”

Originally published as Tigers appoint Para Hills saviour to coach Hermit Park back to premiership flag