SFNL: Newly appointed Port Melbourne Colts co-coach Chris Deluca speaks on his new role

Newly appointed Port Melbourne Colts co-coach Chris Deluca will be out to ensure his side doesn’t “waste their talent” in 2024.

Justin Taylor (left) and Chris Deluca.

Chris Deluca is looking forward to “the teaching side of things” when sharing the reins of the Port Melbourne Colts this season.

Deluca was named the Colts’ coach alongside club captain Justin Taylor after ex-Tiger Josh Caddy stood down in November.

Deluca joined the Colts five years ago after a strong WAFL career, where he averaged a goal per game in Subiaco’s 2015 premiership.

During his time in the west, Deluca was coached by three-time premiership coach Jarrad Schofield and it was there he discovered footy could be taught in different ways.

“Since I got to the Colts, even as a player, for me, it’s been about teaching the younger guys what I know and what I have learnt from footy,” he said.

“I was coached by Jarrad Schofield, who is one of the best coaches I have had, and his footy brain is just so different to anyone else I have ever talked to.

“If I can give guys I coach, a little bit of that, then that’s what I really want to get out that.

“I am lucky, I have JT (Justin Taylor), who is great with people and a great man manager, but for me I like the teaching side of things and be able to share my knowledges and experiences playing footy.”

Deluca celebrates a goal during the 2015 WAFL grand final.

Justin Taylor (left) and Chris Deluca.

With Colts Ethan Williams, Eren Soylemez and Chan Hargraves attracting higher-level interest, Deluca hopes to be the coach that encourages opportunity.

“For me, it’s: ‘Don’t miss the opportunity, don’t make the mistakes so many people make by getting caught up in being a young man’,” he said.

“You have to take the opportunity you have because you’re not going to get it again.

“It’s something that bit me in the arse a bit and I don’t want to see guys waste their talent at 18, 20 years old.

“I wouldn’t want to see guys miss an opportunity because of laziness or something else.”

For Deluca, that opportunity is not limited to just those capable of playing state-league footy.

With the “our club” mentality, Deluca says he and Taylor can now drive the club in a success-riddled direction.

“Me and JT have always had this thing that it’s been our club, the boys’ club, leading the direction we can see going forward,” he said.

“Now not just as players, we can take the club in the way we want it to go.

“Once the boys (the coaching selection panel) asked us, it was pretty much a straight yes from there.”

As for on-field expectations, Deluca said the Colts “can’t go backwards” from their strong finish to 2023.

“We had a really good year last year, we got from fifth and finished in a prelim – I think we’d be aiming for no less than the same,” he said.

“I want the boys to grow on the field and off the field; we’ve had so many coaches over the last few years, I want the culture to build around the club and then on field will take care of itself.”

The Colts, who recently signed ex-Demon Michael Hibberd, have also added dual Vermont premiership player Luke McComb.