AFL Outer-East: Jamie Marshall returns to Emerald after developing his craft at VFL’s Casey Demons

Emerald will look to the experience gained in recent years by successful junior mentor Jamie Marshall as it takes the field for the inaugural AFL Outer-East season.

Jamie Marshall has taken the reins as Emerald senior coach

Emerald will look to the experience gained in recent years by successful junior mentor Jamie Marshall as it takes the field for the inaugural AFL Outer-East season.

Marshall, who’s taken the reins as senior coach, guided the club to four junior premierships at the beginning of the decade before embarking on a stint with the Casey Demons as an assistant coach, development coach and line coach with both the VFL and VFLW programs.

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Emerald celebrates its win in the 2015 Yarra Valley Division 2 grand final. Picture: Andrew Henshaw

During his time at Casey Fields, working under the likes of Simon Goodwin, Justin Plapp and Jade Rawlings, Marshall picked up a suitcase of knowledge and experience for the return trip to Chandler Reserve he’d always planned to make.

Whether coach or player, Marshall said he has always held to the belief that you should get out into football’s great wide world, learn as much as you can and bring it back to your home club.

“I’ve learnt from some really great people, so I thought it was time to practise what I preach and bring it back to Emerald,” he said. “I was getting out there and learning more about my craft and I loved it, loved every minute of it (his time at Casey).”

With the merger of AFL Yarra Ranges and the South-East Football Netball League, there’ll be an element of mystery about the opposition with many clubs lining up against each other for the very first time.

Towering Dandenong Stingrays ruckman Jayden Bubb will boost Emerald’s bigman stocks.

“Definitely adds a bit excitement, and not just for the players but for the coaching group,” Marshall said. “We’re all going into the unknown a bit and it just adds so much excitement.

“I grew up playing in that league and I’ve been involved in that Casey alignment and seen a little of those players, so I’ve got a little bit of insight. But, really, the teams now are just chalk and cheese (compared to past teams).

“Simon Goodwin and Justin Plapp were always big on you worry about what you can control and we can only control what we do on the training track.”

Emerald has been one of the busiest clubs in off-season recruiting, adding quite a deal of depth to its playing list.

Towering Jayden Bubb, Dandenong Stingrays TAC Cup and Frankston VFL, will add plenty to the Bombers’ ruck strength.

Standing at 208cm (6’10”) he was the tallest player in the TAC Cup in his day.

“He’s a ripper of a kid as well,” Marshall said. “And when you see him move, he’s like a fifth on-baller.”

The Bombers have also added the height of former Big V basketballer Mitch Evans, an Oakleigh Chargers TAC Cup graduate.

Speedy athlete Nick Merrick (Beaconsfield) has also come on board while a number of players will be back from longterm injury and a few members of the junior glory days are also set to make a return to the club.

“We’re getting the band back together,” Marshall said. “We’ve been lucky enough to sign a few local players so that will keep us under the points.”

In its past two seasons in AFL Yarra Ranges Division 1, Emerald finished eighth with a 5-13 record — enough wins to finish well clear of the relegation battle but not quite enough to challenge for a finals berth — it will open its new life in AFL Outer-East’s second-tier Division 1 with a trip to Pakenham on Saturday, April 13.

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