Eastern league 2019: Former Tiger and Kangaroo Robin Nahas to coach North Ringwood in 2020

In what president Lee Robinson called a ‘fantastic day for our club’, the former AFL speedster has signed on to steer the Eastern league Saints.

Robin Nahas will coach North Ringwood in 2020 in a significant coaching coup for the EFL Premier Division club.

The former Richmond and North Melbourne small forward signed at the Saints on Friday morning.

He will serve as playing coach.

North Ringwood president Lee Robinson said Nahas’ ability to serve as an on-field leader helped secure him the role.

He said most of the players had also re-signed for next year.

“We wanted to go ahead with a playing coach because, to be honest, the last success we had as a football club was through Brett Moyle, who came as a playing coach for the first couple of years,” Robinson said.

“It’s a fantastic day for our club to be able to bring someone like Robin to our club and we look forward to 2020.”

Robin Nahas playing for Port Melbourne in 2017.

Nahas, 31, played 117 AFL games between 2009 and 2016 and served as an assistant at VFL club Port Melbourne this year.

He played in the Borough’s 2017 flag.

Robinson said Nahas was eager to work with North Ringwood’s young list.

“He doesn’t know our list and doesn’t know our players. He’s got very limited knowledge of our club as it sits right now, apart from what we’ve told him,” he said.

“What we have told him is we’ve got a very young list, which we do, and he’s excited to work with the young list.

“We think what it also does, it makes us a destination club for players now with a name like Robin coaching us.

“Some players make look at what we’re trying to do at North Ringwood and want to be a part of it going forward.

“We’re going to have a very young list next year and we need someone to show them the way.”

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North Ringwood won the 2014 second-tier flag but has missed finals for the five seasons it has spent in the top flight.

Its highest finish in that time has been eighth.

“Injuries have played a part in our position on the ladder, not just the last 12 months but 24 months,” Robinson said.

“We lost eight to 10 of our starting 22 for the majority of the season, which included key players, and we only got half seasons out of our gun players, like Michael Locco and Jayden Van Unen.

“Our injuries have played a part where we finished on the ladder, but in saying that, that gave opportunities to young players, who have played before their time in the ones.”