MPNFL: Anthony Agius appointed senior coach of Tyabb

The Yabbies’ bid to move up the ladder in MPNFL Division 2 has been boosted by the appointment of a league great.

New Tyabb coach Anthony Agius (right) shakes on it with Yabbies official Warren Davies. Picture: Facebook

He’s performed on Peninsula football’s biggest stage as both a player and coach.

And now Anthony Agius has taken on a new footy challenge, to help build MPNFL Division 2 cellar dwellers Tyabb.

He was appointed senior coach of the Yabbies for the next three years on Sunday.

“I love football, I love educating people and I just wanted to get back into it,’’ Agius said.

“It was only two weeks ago that I started looking and I saw Tyabb’s ad…and I applied for it. It all happened quickly and before I knew it I was at the ground yesterday.

“I’m just so chuffed to be given the opportunity.’’

Agius was of the MPNFL’s best forwards in the 1990s and 2000s, kicking hundreds of goals and playing in some of the greatest sides of the modern era.

Seaford captain Michael Kraska (left) and coach Anthony Agius lift the 2009 premiership cup.

He played in two premierships at Edi-Asp (including one as captain) and was a key member of Seaford’s three-peat in 2007-09. He also won a league best and fairest at Rosebud.

As a coach, Agius achieved the ultimate, leading Seaford to the ’09 flag.

He also coached East Brighton.

Anthony Agius.

Agius’ involvement in local football has been limited in recent years; he was an assistant coach at Rosebud in 2016 and for the past two years has coached the Frankston Dolphins’ under-18 girl’s team.

But he’s keen to return to senior ranks and will draw on all of his experience to help improve Tyabb.

“The thing that appealed to me about Tyabb was that they’re not sitting on top of the ladder and they’re in the bottom half of the ladder,’’ Agius said.

“I feel like I’ve got all the skills to be able to build the club and take them to a good place.

“The beauty of spending a lot of time at three cubs is it’s given me a good understanding of what you need to do to take clubs to that place where you want to be.’’

Agius said his coaching style at Tyabb, which only won one game this year, would be simple and clear.

“I think football sometimes can be over coached,’’ he said.

“Football is a pretty basic game, really.

“You don’t get a lot of time with footballers at local level.

“You train twice a week and by the time you warm up and warm down you and maybe have a few chats here and there you probably only get 100 minutes a week to train.

“Some people are looking to implement AFL type systems. Sometimes it fails because it’s too complicated.

“Certainly we will touch on some areas that will make us better around the ball, in front of the ball and behind the ball but I’m not going to over complicate it.’’

Tyabb president Ray Hallal said Agius ticked all the boxes for the Yabbies.

“What he can bring to the club going forward is fantastic,’’ he said.

“It’s pretty much what we need to elevate our profile in the league and help attract players of a certain quality as well.

“He’s got a big desire to help Tyabb become better. That was a massive drawcard. He spoke well, presented well. He ticks a lot of our boxes. We’re very happy.’’