AFL Outer East: Sein Clearihan appointed senior coach of Emerald

The Bombers’ new coach says they “don’t need too much to be really, really competitive’’ in Division 1 of AFL Outer East.

New Emerald senior coach Sein Clearhihan has been everywhere, man.

His 40-year footy journey has taken in the thrill of 10 premierships, either as a player or coach.

Now, at 55, Clearihan says he’s rarely been more excited after landing the Emerald job.

He says the Bombers have a lot going for them — young, talented and hungry for success — and they “don’t need too much to be really, really competitive’’ in Division 1 of AFL Outer East.

Emerald was 4-4 in 2021 before Covid halted the season.

“They’ve got a pretty good young list,’’ Clearihan said.

“Their under 19s and development sides are really good.

“I think we need to get a bit of trust amongst them and get a bit of a concrete base for them. A bit of fitness, but when I say fitness I mean mental fitness.

“I’ve watched a bit of footage of them and it’s about getting a bit of trust and they’ll be alright. I don’t think they need too much to be really, really competitive.

“Just get them excited and enjoying coming to training.’’

Emerald’s Josh Webb clears the ball.

Clearihan said he got “the love back for footy’’ this year while working as an assistant coach at Mornington alongside Simon Goosey.

And when he saw an ad for the Emerald senior coaching job, he applied.

“I thought I’ll put in an application and go through the process,’’ Clearihan said.

“I thought they might have been looking for a playing coach.

“It was a pretty good process and, yeah, I got the call. I was shocked and excited. Like wow. It’s fantastic.

“It’s always been a burning ambition to have a good crack at senior coaching.’’

After starting out at Black Rock as a 15-year-old, Clearihan has been part of 10 clubs. At some of them clubs he’s had a couple of stints.

Sein Clearihan in 2007 after being appointed coachof South Mornington.

In recent years he’s been a senior coach at Caulfield and Catani.

His first foray into senior coaching was at South Mornington in 2007.

“I’ve been very fortunate and I’ve just loved being involved in football,’’ Clearihan said.

“You make a lot of great friends.’’

Asked to outline his footy journey, Clearihan took a deep breath and began:

“I started off at Black Rock as a young bloke, then went to Cheltenham, then went to Cranbourne, spent a year at Pines, then went to Mornington and stayed there for 10 years, then went to Langwarrin with Gav (Artico), then went to Frankston Dolphins with Goose (Simon Goosey), then to Dromana with Gav, then we went back to Langy, went back to Cranbourne with Goose in 2016 as an assistant and won the flag there with him and coached the VFL women’s side. Then I coached Caulfield and then at Catani and then went back to Mornington.

“You get to meet a lot of different people and get different ideas of how clubs are run.’’

Sein Clearihan (right) next to Simon Goosey at Cranbourne in 2016.

Emerald general manager football operations John Rich said Clearihan was a “firm but fair’’ coach and the ideal man to guide the Bombers into the future.

“I think he’ll be the perfect fit for us,’’ Rich said.

“We’ve got a good young group ready to take the next step, the list is good and I think he’s the one who can take us forward.

“He’s a very passionate and knowledgeable bloke. We’re rapt to have him.’’

Rich said Clearihan’s coaching style would suit Emerald’s young list.

“They’ll be fit, they’ll be well drilled, they’ll have a game plan and they’ll know it,’’ he said.

“They will all know their roles. He will be firm but fair and he will build good relationships with them as well. He’s just that sort of fella, he’s pretty likeable. He’s a ripper fella, he just cares.

“He will just continue building the culture that Jamie (Marshall) built over the past couple of years.’’