EDFL 2019: Airport West coach Geoff Maddern re-signs for 2020
Airport West experienced a challenging season under premiership mentor Geoff Maddern, claiming just two wins after winning the Division 1 premiership the previous year. The coach reveals if he will continue at the helm in 2020.
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Airport West premiership coach Geoff Maddern will lead the club into Division 1 in 2020.
The Eagles experienced a challenging season in Premier Division after earning promotion following their grand final triumph last year, finishing in 10th position with a 2-16 record.
The club remained a chance of avoiding the drop with two rounds remaining, but a 77-point loss to Avondale Heights in Round 17 sealed its fate.
Maddern said it was “not a tough call at all” to continue at the helm.
“Coaching is really fun, it’s an enjoyable experience and the club’s terrific,” he said.
“Regardless of the results this year, (I’m) happy to have another go.”
Maddern also led Airport West to the Division 1 decider in 2017, when he shared the top job with Moonee Valley coach Shanon Carroll.
He is hopeful the Eagles will rebound to be a force in the second tier next season as they eye a return to Premier Division.
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“I’ve always thought that four or five-year mark would be the right time to walk away,” Maddern said.
“I’m really pleased to be given the chance to keep going. After that, that’ll probably do me I reckon.
“We’re very hopeful of going back and being really strong and competitive and hopefully getting another go at Premier in the not-too-distant future.”
Madden conceded the Eagles did not recruit heavily enough to compete against the competition’s elite, adding “another two or three might have been good”.
Airport West made it a priority to give their premiership players a chance at a higher level, but it suffered seven losses by 10 goals or more.
On the positive side, recruits Damandeep Aujla (35 goals) and Anthony Aloi had outstanding campaigns.
Clayton Rogers, George Nabbout, Jayden Ranno and Scott McAllester were also consistent performers.
Maddern said the Eagles needed to chase some bigger-bodied onballers and bolster its key position stocks over the off-season.
“Fitness levels of the players in Premier are really first class. You need to match them in that area,” he said.
“A lot of the teams have played together for a long time, have players in that 25-30 year-old age bracket. They’ve developed together and have a really solid understanding of what each other does.
“The top-end clubs, their lists tend to stay fairly consistent from year to year.
“I guess we’ve learned to try and develop a culture like that.”
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