VAFA: Why an impressive coaching panel was so important to Old Xavs ahead of 2024

Daniel Donati will have a vast array of victorious voices supporting him when he steers Old Xaverians this year. He outlines what his coaches bring and how they will drive the club forward.

Daniel Donati.

It’s a coaching panel quite familiar with what it takes to succeed.

New Old Xaverians coach Daniel Donati has assembled a coaching panel rich with knowledge, particularly around winning.

Jeff Gobbels, Pat Hawkins, Dan Hannebery and Louis Tiernan form a team the five-time premiership coach said was “complimentary of each other”.

With a young group, many of those who haven’t tasted premiership success yet, Donati said placing seasoned winners in front of his side was important.

“If you’re lucky enough to be in a successful program, it’s a privilege,” he said.

“All of the guys I have tried to bring in have kind of had that background.

“The more you get success around young people, the more they look at it and aspire to do it.

“It was really important, it wasn’t everything, but having that successful group around to teach is a real bonus for us.”

Dan Hannebery knows what it takes to win. (Photo by Michael Willson/AFL Media/Getty Images)

Donati believes footy has evolved since he began coaching over 10 years ago and thinks a diverse panel is required to get the best out of each player.

“I think coaching is a vital part of modern-day football,” he said.

“I started my senior coaching career in 2012 and back before line coaches were really a thing, you had to it yourself.

“Football has evolved to a place where the playing group needs different voices, different direction and people that can put more time into one-on-one.

“As senior coach, as much as you want to do it (one-on-one), it’s really hard to do.

“To get really good people around the football club is a really crucial part and why I was so interested in being back here.

“We’ve got the right people around to drive the place forward.”

Jeff Gobbels.

Donati said every team could win the VAFA Premier premiership and it’s the coaches’ responsibility to drive that belief.

“I think with anything, you have to realistic and I think this is the toughest competition in Victoria now or the most even anyway,” he said.

“You go into every season, where if you get things right, get the right culture, get the right people … there’s no reason why you can’t contend.

“Having the right people around to instil the belief in this group, I say there’s young, there’s a truckload of young boys but there’s good experience here too.

“I think with that mix, you have to generate the belief they can do it and that’s the aim of every club and any footy coach.”

Prior to Round 1, Old Xavs take on Eastern powers Balwyn and Rowville in practice matches.