Sam Reid won’t return at Goulburn Valley league coach this year

One of the coaches who guided GV to interleague success for the first time in 14 years last year won’t return this in 2025. He outlines the reasons why and his motivation to stay around the team in another capacity.

Sam Reid plays for Echuca. He’ll be looking for a fourth straight premiership with the Mighty Bombers and be looking to play interleague. Picture Yuri Kouzmin

The Goulburn Valley league will have to find a new coach for this year’s interleague game with ex-AFL player and Echuca’s Sam Reid stepping down from the role.

But he won’t entirely be lost to the team.

Last year, the former GWS and Western Bulldogs player coached the team with Mark Lambourn and helped the league to a win over the Ovens and Murray for the first time in 14 years.

Sam Reid will be looking to play in interleague this year after ruling himself out as coach of the Goulburn Valley league team. Picture Yuri Kouzmin

Reid joins Ovens and Murray coach Damian Sexton in not returning for this year.

“I don’t think I’ll have time,” he said.

“I don’t have the time with the academy, work and two kids at the moment to try to put time into it.”

“(At least) I’ll be a winner, I’ll go out undefeated.”

Reid and his brother Ben have set up the Reid Academy over the summer looking to give the best juniors in Echuca/Moama the chance to learn skills from ex-AFL and VFL players/coaches.

The new venture means the time put into something like interleague is now not possible.

But Reid may still play a role.

Sam Reid (left) guides Echuca teammates through a drill. Picture: Shane Jones.

He’s looking to play in what could be his swansong in footy.

“I’ll put my hand up to probably play in it,” he said.

“I was spewing last year, I really wanted to play and (play) the year before.”

Reid will play for Echuca for a fourth straight season after finishing his AFL career in 2021.

He’s been part of every Murray Bombers premiership win since joining.

The 108-game AFL player is also forging on for one other reason.

“(I’m chasing) a fourth flag mate, that’s the reason I’m playing,” he said.

“It’s pretty hard to stop playing, you get the third and your intent is to get three and then probably stop.

“But the feeling is still good and I love training.

“I’ve got two young boys now and they love coming down to watch me so It’s pretty hard to give up when you are trying to teach them all the right things in training and being around a footy club.

“The intent is to win four and see how we go (retiring).”

Originally published as Sam Reid won’t return at Goulburn Valley league coach this year