Southern league 2019: new coach Jason Smith determined to make Clayton ‘relevant again’

It’s been a tough two years for Clayton but the club is determined to be come ‘relevant again’ in the Southern league.

The good years at Clayton?

Jason Smith knows all about them.

Smith was playing at the club when it won the 2006 Division 1 premiership under the coaching of George Jones and was fired by such notable Southern names as Waata Wells, “Moose’’ Rajic, Richard Szerszyn, Ryan Goodes and Matt Gallagher.

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Jones had also taken the Clays to the 2001 flag. They were a formidable combination.

How things have changed for the proud black and whites.

When they take the field this year, they’ll do so in Division 3.

They haven’t won a game in two years, being relegated in successive seasons.

Smith is Clayton’s new senior coach and is determined to “reboot’’ the club and make it “relevant again’’.

The two-time premiership player and life member was an assistant coach under Nick Scanlon in 2015-16 when the Clays were still in Division 1.

“Seeing what’s happened the last couple of years, I thought I’d put my hand up and try to do something about it rather than just sit by and watch,’’ he said.

“There are a lot of good people still at the club working hard.

“It just shows you can have the right people and things can still go downwards.

“But I think with the mix we’ve got in place now, off and on field, the club is moving in the right direction. We haven’t had that in synch in the last couple of years. So it’s a good time to come in and be a senior coach.’’

Clayton coach Jason Smith welcomes Jesse Henderson back to the club.

Smith said he appreciated Clayton’s success in the Jones years, but that was in the past and it was up to this year’s players to “make their own mark’’.

“We’re trying to drive standards of our own,’’ he said.

“Those days were good days but they’re long gone.’’

He said the players had been “sponge-like’’ in the pre-season.

“Momentum is building. The positivity around the place is surprising given what’s gone on in the last two years,’’ Smith said.

“They (players) really want to turn things around. There’s a pulse and there’s a heartbeat.’’

Smith replaces his brother-in-law, Jayden Gilmour, a loyal and dependable club leader who has been appointed captain.

Ruckman Jesse Henderson and Darcy Kingsbury have returned and Byron Hoe, a proven performer in Division 3, has crossed from Endeavour Hills.

Rob Dipper, who coached Endeavour Hills to the grand final last year, has also transferred to Clayton, as Smith’s assistant coach.

Smith said Dipper knew the Division 3 scene intimately, and his knowledge and advice would be invaluable.

“When he contacted us and said he wanted to come over, it was a no-brainer,’’ he said.

Smith said player numbers were good, depth had improved and there would be more competition for positions.

Jayden Gilmour will captain Clayton this year.

Division 3 will have only six teams this year but Smith said that was no bad thing for the Clays.

“We might not peak until a third or halfway through the season, just feeling our way through it, and we’ll be able to suss teams out a little bit more than if you had 10 teams,’’ he said.

“It’s quirky and unique, the six teams. It will be interesting to see how it plays out.’’

*Clayton secretary/treasurer Bianca Wills said the Clays were proud to be a “massive family-oriented club’’.

New president and club stalwart Bob Caine is the father of player Lauchie; Wills’s husband Mick is the reserves playing coach and has been at the club 24 years; their eldest son Mark is in the seniors and younger boy Matthew is playing his first year of reserves with his father and uncle Steve.

Immediate past president Greg Collins has sons Tim and Chris and four daughters in the playing ranks.

Sarah, Rebecca and Maggie play both netball and football, Suzannah is captain of the women’s football team and Sarah is also the vice-president.

The Collins clan of Clayton.

The Wills’s eldest daughters Rachael and Chantelle help in the canteen, younger children Hayden, James and Amy sell raffle tickets, and Anne, 18 months, and Michaela, six months, are mascots for the women’s side, which is known as the Claydies.

“We have nine children and all have a role to play at the club,’’ Bianca Wills said.

The Wills family not only volunteers for the club, it supports it financially through its business Wills Concrete Constructions.

Keen young Clay Anne Wills in her Clayton jumper made by Wendy Townley.

Then there’s the Townleys. Neil is coach of the women and has been around the club since its junior days. His wife, Wendy, is involved in netball and helps cooks the barbecue on Saturdays.

This year will be the first that none of their children are playing but the Townleys are Clays from head to toe.

The club is celebrating 100 years at Meade Reserve.

“We are all very much looking forward to the season ahead with our new senior coach and believe he is the man to turn our men’s squad into the premiers, like our women’s team was last year,’’ Bianca Wills said.