EDFL: Longwarry locks in Aaron Paxton as coach for 2021
Former Karingal and Sorrento player Aaron Paxton will commence his senior coaching career by taking the reins of Ellinbank league premiers Longwarry.
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Country life is agreeing with Aaron Paxton.
Since moving to Garfield with his young family, the former Karingal football captain has thrown himself into the local sporting scene — playing football with Bunyip last year and cricket with Pakenham.
Now a new sporting challenge awaits.
Paxton has been appointed playing-coach of Longwarry, the reigning premiers of the Ellinbank and District Football League.
Longwarry has a proud history, with Hawthorn champion Peter Knights recruited directly out of the club as a teenager.
And Carlton premiership player Dean Rice coached the Crows in the past decade.
For Paxton, the coaching job realises a long-held ambition.
“It’s something I’ve always wanted to do,’’ he said.
“I went for an interview to see how it all goes…I applied for that job and the Bunyip job – where I was – but Bunyip wanted an experienced coach, which is fair enough.
“Yeah, it turns out a pretty good fit for me.
“Pretty handy, first time coaching and I walk into a club that’s had success last year.’’
Longwarry ended a 51-year premiership drought last year, while its under 18s also won the flag and the reserves were runners-up.
Paxton intends to maintain the success and has brought his best mate and former Karingal teammate Duncan Proud with him. His younger brother Grant will also come across from Karingal.
“We’ve identified areas we need to recruit and they said they need someone to play half back, centre half back so that’s where I fit in,’’ Paxton said.
“Duncan Proud has come with me — he will play as a ruckman, and rest up forward.
“They recruited Jay Wells this year, he’s a former junior who has come back.
“We’re waiting to see what happens cap wise because apparently it’s going to get slashed but most of the boys, if not all of them, have said they’re happy with that because everyone sees the potential to go pretty well.’’
Paxton, 28, has crammed a lot into his football career already.
He captained Karingal at a young age before making the move to Sorrento where he played in a premiership alongside ex-AFL men Troy Schwarze, Luke Tapscott and Chris Dawes.
Nick Jewell, who coached Paxton at Sorrento, said his past experiences would hold him in good stead as he moved into coaching.
“He’s played in some good sides, he’s played in some poor sides, been a young captain,’’ Jewell said.
“He’s got a lot of experience.
“So he knows what a good program looks like and one that hasn’t got the experience…he’s seen a lot to know what’s required.
“You never know until you do it. The hardest thing you can do is be a playing coach. Number one you have to get a kick otherwise they turn on you pretty quick. He certainly reads the play really well and I think it suits if he’s going to sit across half back, where I think he plays his best footy, you can see the game unfold and he’s got good support on the sidelines.’’
Paxton said he’s been lucky to play under some good coaches in Brendan Dunne at Karingal, Jewell and Aussie Jones at Bunyip.
“I learnt a lot at Sorrento under Jewell,’’ he said.
“I’ve always been involved in leadership groups, I’ve always been front and centre to it all. Going down there (Sorrento) and learning from a few of those blokes probably sparked it a bit more and then playing under Aussie Jones last year, learning a bit from him as well…
“I’ve been around a bit.
“I’ve always wanted to be a playing-coach and a non-playing coach at some point, just so I could experience both sides of it.
“So in terms of age, I’m probably at the right age now and had enough experience with Sorrento and Karingal that I can bring a bit of knowledge down to this footy club.’’
Paxton said he wouldn’t hesitate to contact his former coaches for advice.
“I speak to Tug (Jewell) all the time,’’ he said.
“And Aussie. I get along with both of them really well. I get along with Brendan Dunne well, too.
“I speak to Jewell probably once a week, justr bounce ideas off him, footy, cricket, all sorts of stuff…so I lean on him a bit. I speak to Aus as well and I lean on Dunc, he’s my best mate and he’s obviously done it and he said whatever I decided to do he will back me one hundred percent because he knows how tough it can be.’’
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