Old Paradians sign Northern league premiership-winning coach Ben Turner

Lower Plenty premiership-winning coach and Banyule flag assistant Ben Turner will take the reins at Northern league applicant Old Paradians.

Ben Turner is Old Paradians new coach.

Whether it be back in VAFA or in a new home in the Northern league, Old Paradians have their man.

Ben Turner will led the club in 2024, which it hopes will be in the NFNL.

Taking the reins from Justin Whitcher, Turner comes with extensive experience in the league.

A Division 2 premiership-winning coach at Lower Plenty in 2019, he was also assistant coach at Banyule when the Bears won the Division 2 flag last year.

He’d previously taken Greensborough to a Division 1 grand final in 2015 and preliminary final the following season.

A teacher at Parade College, Turner was also work of the team that took the school to its first ACC premiership since 2009.

Paradians president Simon Vincent was thrilled to secure a quality coach and person.

“We are extremely pleased to secure Ben,” Vincent said.

“He is a great cultural fit for us and has exceptional NFNL experience, which was a critical component we were looking for in a coach.

“His connection to the college also builds upon the great partnership that currently exists.

“We will be hearing more from Ben in the coming days and at the meet the coach night next week, where he will outline his plans for the pre-season and the 2024 season.”

After 94 years in the VAFA, Paradians are in the process of joining the Northern Football Netball League.

The club will present to NFNL club presidents in the hope of getting approval and then will need the Amateurs to agree to release it.

Speaking to Leader last month, Vincent said a move to the NFNL was critical to keep the club relevant.

“Situated right next to the school there’s an appearance there’s a pathway of talent but that hasn’t been the case for a long time,” he said.

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“That extends to supporters and volunteers, we’ve got a lot of loyal old Paradians who look at the scores, but we don’t get great crowds and it’s difficult on game day – there’s not enough arms and legs.

“We felt like over a long period of time, slowly, slowly, we’re becoming irrelevant in our geography.

“Oscillating between Division 1 and 2 isn’t helping either, it’s not as an attractive proposition for kids at the school and in general kids in the area to come and play.”

Old Paradians will be joined in the attempt to cross to the NFNL by fellow long-time VAFA club Ivanhoe.