Stephen Milne appointed assistant coach of East Brighton
Stephen Milne will be an assistant coach to Andrew Kahofer, with the East Brighton mentor — an old friend of the former St Kilda star — revealing why the forward has signed up.
Southern
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An old friendship has kicked in and led former St Kilda forward Stephen Milne to Southern league coaching ranks.
Milne, 40, has been appointed an assistant to Andrew Kahofer at Division 2 club East Brighton.
He’s also expected to play a few matches for the Vampires.
But Kahofer said Milne’s greatest contribution would be as a coach guiding the club’s young players.
He said East Brighton’s players, officials and members were chuffed at news the 275-game Saint would be taking up a role at Hurlingham Park.
“The messages I’ve had show they’re absolutely stoked about it,’’ Kahofer said. “Nothing but positive vibes.’’
Kahofer and Milne have been friends for 20 years, from the time the Vampires coach was general manager of Rip Curl.
“We’ve been having this conversation for a long time, about him getting involved,’’ he said.
“Like most people you get to a certain point where you want to give a bit back, and spend time being part of something.
“Steve wants to be part of our group, and where he can, pass on his knowledge and experience.
“If he plays six games, I’d say that would probably be the limit, but his value will be what he brings to the group and how he imparts his knowledge and his understanding of the game on the training track.
“The reason he’s come on board is genuine. It’s all from the heart. He’s not coming for a golden handshake. This is not me out fishing for a bloke in the market place. It’s mates having a beer and saying, ‘Why not?’ I’m just stoked we’ve got someone with his background who wants to be part of the group and help us drive through our messaging and change of game style.’’
Elusive and effusive, Milne is regarded as one of league football’s best small forwards, having booted 574 goals for St Kilda. He topped the club’s goalkicking four times and was selected in the All Australian team in 2011 and ’12.
Milne played three seasons at Beaumaris in the VAFA, leading the goalkicking on two occasions, before retiring at the end of 2018.
East Brighton has appointed two other assistant coaches: former senior coach Peter Larsen and former Ormond defender Luke Saunders, who will also play.
The Vampires were for a long time a Division 1 force in the Southern league. But, relegated without a win in 2016, they have battled in Division 2 for the past three seasons.
Kahofer said the club was working hard to turn around its fortunes.
“We think East Brighton will be a very different East Brighton when it hits the field,’’ he said.
Kahofer, a former premiership coach with Ormond reserves, was appointed at the end of 2019 but COVID-19 delayed his move into senior coaching.
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