AFL players Bailey Dale, Lachie Young and Ned Cahill all started under coach Troy Shannon

Former MPNFL coach Troy Shannon explains why he “nearly got in a fight’’ in a Perth pub as he watched three of his proteges play in the same AFL game.

Troy Shannon calling the shots as Mt Eliza coach in 2018. Picture: Chris Eastman

Former MPNFL coach Troy Shannon said he was bursting with pride as he watched the Essendon-Western Bulldogs AFL game last week.

Three players on the ground — Bailey Dale (Bulldogs), Lachie Young (Bulldogs) and Ned Cahill (Essendon) — had their first taste of senior football under the coaching of Shannon in the MPNFL.

Dale was 16 when he played in Edithvale-Aspendale’s 2013 premiership, while Young and Cahill played under Shannon at Mt Eliza in 2017 and ’18 respectively.

Lachie Young of the Bulldogs gets a handball away against Essendon at Metricon Stadium on the Gold Coast last Friday night. Picture: Jono Searle

Shannon remembers Bailey Dale starring in an Under 18s interleague game at Carlton’s Visy Park in May, 2013.

“He played senior footy pretty much from then on,’’ he said.

“With Bailey, you could tell he was always going to make it because he was so clean with his hands, a bit like Ned.

“They are just one touch footballers.

“Bailey wasn’t on the Stingrays list then. He was an unknown.

“I reckon he played half a dozen games with me and then a finals series.’’

Cahill made an eye-catching entrance to senior footy at Mt Eliza, booting a goal in his first game and going on to play in the Redlegs’ semi-final win over Frankston YCW in 2018.

“Ned was a one touch player,’’ Shannon said.

“He was just a kid who worked hard, from a good family, he was always doing the extra work.’’

Bailey Dale on the move. Picture: Chris Hyde

Essendon debutant Ned Cahill. Picture: Jono Searle

Shannon said Young, nicknamed “Rocket’’, was hugely talented. He played ones at Mt Eliza in 2017 and was best-on-ground against Pines in just his third game.

“I reckon Rocket is the best out of the lot to be honest,’’ Shannon said.

“I rate Rocket, he was probably my favourite kid going through.’’

Shannon moved to Perth last year and isn’t involved in football, although his daughter is playing with West Perth.

He and his wife watched the game last Friday night at a pub and resisted the temptation to tell everyone that he coached three players on the ground.

“I nearly got in a fight with an 80-year-old bloke who kept getting in the way of the television,’’ Shannon laughed.

“I had to ask him three times to sit down. My wife was embarrassed.’’

Shannon also coached current AFL players Dylan Shiel (at Edi-Asp) and Sam Sturt (at Mt Eliza).

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