EDFL: Sunbury Kangaroos appoint Leigh Sporle as coach
Sunbury Kangaroos have found their replacement for Anthony Leydin, appointing a life member and 200-gamer as coach for 2021.
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Sunbury Kangaroos have turned to a life member as they prepare for the challenge of Essendon District Football League Division 1.
The Kangaroos have appointed Leigh Sporle as Anthony Leydin’s replacement in the top job.
Sporle, who played more than 200 games for the club, has coached Rockbank and held assistant roles at Coburg Districts and Moonee Valley.
“Leigh’s just got this aura about him where he can bring a group of people together and bring out the best in them,” Kangaroos president Allan Walters said.
“It’s something he does well and he did a good job when he was coaching a few years ago. He’s been out of the game, but he’s keen and he’s put a good panel together off the field, which always helps.
“It’s exciting. We had a lot of applicants, it was a good interview and he’s really looking forward to it.
“It’s always good to have life members back at the club and already with the playing group, there’s just that little bit of a buzz back.
“With the feedback I’m getting from different people, everything’s positive.”
Leydin, who led the club to the 2019 Division 2 premiership after it crossed from the RDFL, stepped down last month.
The Kangaroos have ambitions to climb to the EDFL’s top flight but face an enormous task to compete with the likes of East Keilor, Airport West, Tullamarine and Westmeadows with a new-look line-up next year.
They waved goodbye to eight premiership players last off-season, with Tierone Cuffe, Matthew Quigley, Lachlan Baddeley, Christian Monaco, Jeremy Murphy, Jared Pretty, Brad Slater and Matt Welsh leaving.
Hawthorn premiership player Clinton Young (Gisborne), Mark Freeth (Diggers Rest), Dean Halliwell (Rupertswood), Zach McCasker (Greenvale), Will Healy, and Dylan Caruana (both Sunbury Lions) were among the additions.
Walters said he was hopeful Sporle’s return would result in Sunbury Kangaroos retaining the bulk of their senior squad.
“It’s already going ahead nicely,” he said.
“There’s a few people who are holding off (on signing) due to work commitments. There were one or two who were interested in seeing who the coach was.
“But straightaway Leigh’s on the front foot contacting all the players … and he’s got the extra time to review the list all that sort of stuff.”
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