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Red Hill coach Jamie Mollo returns to uni to do counselling course

An MPNFL premiership coach has turned the scrapped season into a positive, returning to university to pursue a new career.

Red Hill coach Jamie Mollo is making the most of the cancelled 2020 season. Picture: David Crosling
Red Hill coach Jamie Mollo is making the most of the cancelled 2020 season. Picture: David Crosling

Red Hill premiership coach Jamie Mollo is making the most of lockdown by pursuing a new career.

He’s gone back to uni to do a counselling course.

“I’ve been able to put a fair bit of time into it, whereas I wouldn’t have had time normally,’’ Mollo said.

“It’s an area I’d like to get into later down the track, with footy youth, because I think it’s a growing field with mental health and kids struggling. It’s something I really would love to do.’’

Red Hill captain Marcus Dal Lago and coach Jamie Mollo lift the 2019 MPNFL Division 2 premiership cup as club stalwart Owen Shaw looks on. Picture: Chris Eastman
Red Hill captain Marcus Dal Lago and coach Jamie Mollo lift the 2019 MPNFL Division 2 premiership cup as club stalwart Owen Shaw looks on. Picture: Chris Eastman

Mollo, who has taken a young Red Hill side to two grand finals in his two seasons in charge, said footy coaching was a good grounding to become a counsellor.

“Mate, as a coach you’re a counsellor anyway, really,’’ he said.

“I may as well get qualified at it.’’

Red Hill further strengthened its side by recruiting Karingal captain Andy Mathers last week.

The Hillmen won last season’s MPNFL Division 2 grand final — ending a 29-year premiership drought — to earn promotion to Division 1.

In June they signed former Richmond player Steven Morris.

Mollo said Morris, who captained the Tigers VFL side to a premiership last season, would play with the Hillmen next year — if he’s not playing VFL.

“That all comes down to how the VFL looks next year,’’ Mollo said.

“If the VFL goes ahead like it has normally over last three or four years, he’ll play VFL.

“If it doesn’t and they go down a different path...then he’s happy to play with us. Either way we’re pretty lucky to have him and he’s going to coach our academies as well.’’

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Original URL: https://www.heraldsun.com.au/leader/localfooty/red-hill-coach-jamie-mollo-returns-to-uni-to-do-counselling-course/news-story/281344d9f9febe1c058be32b26bfacad