Heidelberg secure the services of Matt Smith full-time for 2021
Collingwood’s VFL vice-captain is set for a full-time shift to local footy after signing on as assistant coach at Heidelberg in a significant boost to the Tigers’ premiership hopes in 2021.
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Northern Football League premiership contender Heidelberg has received a massive boost with Collingwood VFL star Matt Smith committing full-time in 2021.
Smith, who was the Magpies’ vice-captain, has signed on as an assistant coach at Warringal Park.
The midfielder played 46 VFL games in black-and-white but will now focus solely on the Tigers, with coach Danny Nolan confident Smith can help take his young group to the next level.
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“We hoped to get him for a few games this year, but to not just commit for next year, he really wants to be involved as an assistant coach and leader around the club, is massive for us,” Nolan said.
“He helped us through the first restrictions with some online training and really stepped up and straight away the guys looked up to him.
“He sets the level pretty high and I think he’ll take us to a new level fitness wise and his leadership style will be fantastic.
“Our group is young and developing but also striving to go high, so to have his on-field leadership is really what we’re looking for.”
Smith will be joined by West Preston-Lakeside premiership coach Vinny Dattoli and Heidelberg great Dale Nolan as assistant coaches.
Nolan was looking to bring back more past players to support the players in 2021.
“We’ve been really lucky with support from past players, it’s going to have a real Heidelberg feel around the place,” he said.
“People want to help out in little ways, get back around the club, so they’ll be plenty of support for the players.”
The Tigers lost a lot of experience at the end of 2019 with the likes of Sam Grimley, Ryan Stone, Jack Blair, Tom Sullivan and Fletcher McIvor bidding farewell.
Smith, Brody Tardio (North Heidelberg), Nick Richards (Wangaratta), Josh Onderwater (Apollo Bay), Josh Smith (Greenvale) and Kieren Parnell (NT Thunder) were this year’s major arrivals.
In a further boost Christian Buykx-Smith, Tom and Matt Schnerring, Fletcher Carroll and Josh Minogue had all committed to the Tigers full-time for 2020.
“We were hoping to sign (Smith) full-time next year, that was our aim when we signed him, so it’s fallen into place nicely,” Nolan said.
“I think the club has a good feel about it, so our VFL-listed players have really enjoyed their time here and really bought in.”