EFL: Wantirna South coach Jess Sinclair re-signs for 2019
WANTIRNA South coach Jess Sinclair has extended his stay at Walker Reserve, re-signing until at least the end of 2019 as the Devils look to turn their form around.
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WANTIRNA South coach Jess Sinclair has extended his stay at Walker Reserve, re-signing until at least the end of 2019.
Sinclair took the helm at the Devils from long-serving mentor Matt Clark at the end of last year after serving as a senior assistant under Shannon Grant at VAFA club St Kevin’s in 2017.
Wantirna South president Steve Draper said the 39-year-old had re-signed for next year “with a view to beyond” staying after 2019.
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Draper said Sinclair was “fitting in and buying in really well to the Devils culture”.
“Obviously a new bunch of players and all that sort of stuff but it is his passion and commitment to us, which has been outstanding,” Draper said.
“He’s always at training, he’s there early, he’s prepared, he’s got everything ready, he talks, he understands the game well and he understands the players.
The Devils are pleased to announce that Senior Coach, Jess Sinclair, will be continuing in the role for season 2019 & beyond.
— Wantirna South F.C (@WSDEVILS) June 19, 2018
Development coach Sam Bates will also continue in his role in 2019. pic.twitter.com/Xe6DlxTk4S
“He’s got buy-in from the players and he is open to feedback … he adjusts so it is not an arrogance of, ‘I know what I am doing, leave me alone’, so we’re really pleased with that.”
Wantirna South entered the season with cause for optimism after adding former Waverley Blues coach Ben Carboni and captain Will Edwards, Chandler medallist Luke Williams and Balwyn premiership player Danny Hughes.
But Draper said the Devils had felt the loss of retirees Glen Manson, champion goalkicker Daniel Beddome, Brad Hutchinson and Brad Ulms, while Matt Buzinskas returned to Boronia.
“Everyone is always talking themselves up and we did recruit well but I think what people don’t realise is we had 10 of our experienced players retire pretty much,” he said.
“They’re hard to replace because you always know what you’re going to get whereas youngsters can be hot and cold.
“There was an unknown element to it, we always felt if we lost a few players it was going to be hard to do well.
“The blokes we’ve recruited we’re really pleased with, they are doing well.”
Wantirna South plays Park Orchards at Walker Reserve on Saturday.
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