MPFNL: Ex-St Kilda legend Nathan Burke will help out at Division 2 contender Karingal
Karingal coach Luke Forsyth has outlined exactly what an Australian Football Hall of Fame inductee is doing at his Bulls and how his role will help them “invest” in their future.
Mornington
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Karingal coach Luke Forsyth says the addition of AFL Hall of Fame champion Nathan Burke will be as valuable off the field as it will be on.
Burke has linked with Karingal in the Mornington Peninsula league as a player development manager to guide the core group the Bulls want to “invest in”.
Burke, 53, played 323 games for St Kilda before stepping into roles as the Saints’ footy director and then most recently as coach of the Western Bulldogs’ AFLW side.
He parted ways with the Bulldogs in November and has since landed at Karingal.
“His resume speaks for itself,” Forsyth says.
“We’ve got a really good, young core we want to invest in, so we thought with his knowledge and what he’s done that it was a perfect fit.
“Even last night he introduced himself to the boys and he grabbed a core group of nine or 10 and they had an hour and a half conversation after training off the cuff, so he’s fully invested into it — it’s really exciting for the club.
“Footy is the obvious one but most have finished year 12 now and some are going to uni, so it’s just that transition in life and football.
“They’ll still work with the line coaches on structure and whatnot but having Nathan there is someone who can help them grow and develop as well.”
Forsyth thinks the young Bulls will get the best out of themselves under the tutelage of Burke.
“It’s not just making them better footballers but better people,” he says.
“If they’re enjoying life outside of footy then on field kind of looks after itself.
“He’s going to be at training, game day – whether they play 19s or seniors – and give them feedback away from the coaches.
“He will work closely with myself and Burkey (Michael) but he will also have intimate, one-on-one, group setting catch-ups with them to help them.
“We won’t saturate it and throw 30 kids in there, we’ll just start with nine or 10 that we feel are ready to play senior footy and then evolve that as the season progresses.
“With the calibre of someone like Nathan Burke, it’s going to be pretty awesome.”
Burke shares no relation to Karingal legends Michael and Sara.
He is instead connected via footy manager Steve Matthews, who is Burke’s brother in-law.
The Bulls kick off their season with Somerville on Saturday, April 6.
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