Country footy battlers Tailem Bend sign Adelaide Crows legend Tyson Edwards as coach

A battling SA country footy club has secured a huge coup by signing a former Adelaide Crows premiership champion.

1997 premiership players Nigel Smart, Tyson Edwards and Matthew Robran with the 1997 AFL Premiership Cup. Picture: Matt Turner.

A battling country footy club has secured a huge coup by signing Adelaide Crows club legend Tyson Edwards as its senior coach.

Tailem Bend in the River Murray Football League has secured the services of the 321-game AFL champion, who will attempt to lift the club to its first A Grade flag in a quarter of a century.

The Eagles’ premiership drought stretches back 25 years to 2000, something it hopes the presence of Edwards at the helm will remedy.

“With a talented group of juniors coming through, Tyson’s appointment marks an exciting new chapter for the Tailem Bend Football Club,” a post from the club’s Facebook said.

“His experience and leadership will be invaluable as we shape the next generation, and we wish him all the best in his journey with the Eagles and look forward to a successful future together.”

Tyson Edwards (left) will be joined in the coaches box by his son Luke Edwards who recently retired from the West Coast Eagles with concussion issues. Picture: Sarah Reed

Edwards, who made his AFL debut in 1995, quickly earned a reputation as one of the league’s most consistent and respected midfielders.

A key figure in the Adelaide Crows’ premiership victories in1997 and 1998, he went on to reach 321 games, the second most in club history.

After his distinguished playing career, Tyson gained valuable coaching experience under Ken Hinkley as Port Adelaide’s development and forwards coaches between 2012-2015.

Edwards, who hails from nearby Wynarka, already has close family ties to the club.

“Tyson has been on the sidelines with his family for a lot of our games already, but we are excited to now see him step into our coach’s box,” the club said.

He will be joined in the coaches box by son Luke, who recently retired from AFL football with West Coast due to concussion issues.

Edwards’ son Brodie currently plays in the Eagles’ A Grade side, while he also has a number of nephews and nieces at the club.

Crows father-son draft pick Jackson Edwards with his dad Tyson in 2017. Picture: Matt Turner.

Originally published as Country footy battlers Tailem Bend sign Adelaide Crows legend Tyson Edwards as coach