Heidelberg West lands experienced junior and assistant coach for 2024

Heidelberg West has locked in an experienced junior and senior assistant coach for 2024, confident he can help the club break its finals drought.

Heidelberg West announces Dale Mayne as its new coach.

Heidelberg West has locked in its coach for 2024.

The Hawks have appointed first-time senior coach Dale Mayne to replace Michael Missen next NFNL Division 3 season.

Mayne arrives at Heidelberg Park after an extensive background in junior coaching at Banyule but also has senior assistant and reserve grade coaching experience at Montmorency.

He has also coached the Yarra Juniors Colts Team of the Year interleague side.

Heidelberg West president Craig Toohey said Mayne brought an expertise in developing talent and deep connections in local footy.

“Dale came to us a few weeks ago, he was passionate about getting into a senior job,” Toohey said.

“The Heidelberg West job had been on his radar and as soon he saw it came up he came in, we did multiple interviews, and we liked what he brings.

“He’s got great experience, he’s done a bit of senior assistant work and done mostly junior programs at Banyule the last seven or eight years.

“He knows pretty much half our team and always kept an eye on the team, so he’s got great knowledge already.

“He’s got great connections around the league, which is what we were looking for as well, because we want to bring in more young players.”

Heidelberg West narrowly missed out on a top-four finish this season, finishing fifth on percentage.

Despite the near finals miss, the Hawks saw star ruckman Lachie Evans win the league best-and-fairest, while boom off-season recruit Daniel Kelly finished fourth in Coaches’ MVP voting.

Evans, Kelly, Alex Hywood and Brad Moore were selected in the Division 3 Team of the Year, while Kelly claimed the club best-and-fairest.

Heidelberg West has a new coach for 2024.

The Hawks hope Mayne can help end what will be a 30-year finals drought next season.

“That’s what the players are craving (playing finals),” Toohey said.

“Michael Missen is a good friend of mine and the last four years we’ve just missed out.

“We were happy for Michael to sign on and go again but he knew it was time for a change, he’s the ultimate clubman, he’s been at West for nearly 20 years.

“The time was right, the players were craving a change as well, so it worked for everyone I think.”

West has already made a strong start to the recruiting season.

Jacob Smith has been lured across from Division 1 club Macleod.

The developing ruck-forward played four reserve grade games this season but played three senior games in 2022 and was fourth in the Division 2 Under-19s league best-and-fairest in 2021.

With the coach locked in, Toohey expected more signings to come

“Absolutely, there’s a bit in the works but we were waiting for the coach to sign off,” he said.

DIV 1: RYAN CALLS TIME ON BUNDOORA TENURE

LEADER: GET YOUR NORTHERN FOOTY NEWS HERE

DIV 1: HEIDELBERG IS YELLOW AND BACK-TO-BACK

“It’s changed over the years, Heidelberg West doesn’t have any problem attracting players anymore – it used to be a big problem.

“We’ll sit down in the next couple of weeks and work at who we need and what we need and go for it.

“Most of our playing group has signed on and a few were waiting for the coach to sign but I think now that that’s happened we’ll get the signatures that we want.”

Elsewhere, Kinglake is the last Division 3 club to announce its coach, while Lalor appointed favourite son Lance Whitnall and relegated Epping has confirmed Brad Hollow.