WRFL Division 1: Yarraville-Seddon advertising for new coach
Top flight WRFL club Yarraville-Seddon is searching for a new coach to take charge of its talented stable of youth and president Rick Halliwell says it is an attractive job to take on. Here’s why.
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Yarraville-Seddon’s next coach will have a talented bunch of young guns at his fingertips as the club prepares to take on the Western Region Football League’s elite in 2021.
Eagles president Rick Halliwell said the Division 1 outfit boasted a stable of emerging players as it eyes a long stay in the top flight.
2019 best-and-fairest winner Brandon Lester, Lachie Huell, Jack Webster and Blake Green headline the group, while Zach Pritchard and Lachlan Green are members of Western Jets’ NAB League squad.
“I could name 10 under-18 kids from our list last year who could play Division 1 football,” Halliwell said.
“We’ve got some other kids who look like coming back to the club as well who have been elsewhere. It’s positive signs.”
Yarraville-Seddon is searching for a new coach after first-year mentor Chris Atkins stepped down because of “personal reasons”.
He took charge of the Division 1 outfit last October after holding assistant coaching roles at Sunshine and Kyabram but did not have the opportunity to lead the Eagles in a match.
Halliwell said the vacancy had already attracted plenty of interest.
“We’ve advertised. Already we’ve had lots quite a few candidates put in for it in less than 24 hours,” he said.
“It will be a great challenge for the right person.
“We’ve got a pool of talent coming through, strong junior program and retention has been our No.1 focus all the way through 2018, 2019 and 2020. Breeding our own players makes recruiting a lot easier, that’s for sure.”
While the Eagles did not get the opportunity to see how they measured up in Division 1 this season after claiming last year’s Division 2 flag, the club has not deviated from its plan.
Halliwell acknowledged all clubs were facing some uncertainty amid the coronavirus pandemic.
“I don’t think anyone has any idea what next year will look like. Pretty sure it will be a lot different to what we’re used to,” he said.
“Are we going to be prepared? I can’t say yes or no.
“We’ve got a 3-5 year plan. We haven’t got any expectations mixed up this time.
“It’s a long-term plan for us and maintaining a presence in Division 1, but also making sure we can be competitive and get some success as the years go on.”
Halliwell said Yarraville-Seddon had “no issues at all” with locking in its senior players for 2021.
“I think everyone we’ve brought to the club this year will be staying on, so it’s pretty positive,” he said.
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