Youth appeals to new St Mary’s NFL coach Fabian Carelli

A CHANCE to mould a young group and a move closer to home are two key factors behind football journeyman Fabian Carelli’s move to St Mary’s.

Fabian Carelli has taken over as coach at St Mary’s. Picture: Mark Wilson

A CHANCE to mould a young group and a move closer to home are two key factors behind football journeyman Fabian Carelli’s move to St Mary’s.

Carelli has signed on as senior coach of the Northern Football League Division 3 club for two seasons after a two-year stint at the helm of St Albans in the Western Region league.

The former Collingwood under-19s captain said the timing was right to move a little closer to his home in Reservoir.

“You’ve got a really young club here that’s making its way with a really young list so that was part of the attraction,” Carelli said.

“I feel I’ve got a real affinity with coaching young players and developing young lists so hopefully I can help take this club to the next level.”

St Mary’s president Paul Millet, who had a previous connection with the new coach when Carelli captained West Preston-Lakeside to a premiership in 2003, said the club was impressed as soon as the experienced mentor put his hand up.

“We always wanted someone of the calibre and we were very pleased when he applied,” Millet said.

“That’s the type of coach we wanted to employ: someone who spends the time with the players and works with them to help them grow.”

Having developed his style in 11 seasons as an assistant or head coach, Carelli said he had found his voice as a coach and was ready to lift the Burra after they bowed out in the first week of finals this year.

“I said to the committee that I think it’s going to be a good fit with this club and my stage of a coach and there is a lot to be gained here,” he said.

Carelli will scour his extensive contacts for “some outside pace and foot skills” and will look to bolster St Mary’s ruck department before the new season.