Matthew Knights named as Tasmania Devils academy coach

Former Essendon coach Matthew Knights has landed a new role with the Tasmania Devils ahead of their AFL entry. He reveals what attracted him to join the club.

Matthew Knights has taken on a role with the Tasmania Devils. Photo: Tasmania FC.

Matthew Knights says he is determined to help Tasmanians become AFL stars after landing a role with the AFL’s 19th team.

On Wednesday, the former Essendon mentor was named as the Tasmania Football Club’s inaugural academy coach, starting in the role this week.

The Devils head of football operations Aaron Pidgeon said Knights’ role would continue to evolve over the next 12 months, helping to identify the state’s top talent as they prepare for the draft process over the next several years.

He will also be a senior assistant to the VFL program.

“I think there’s a responsibility and I must admit, I’ve got to embrace that responsibility and that’s going to be so important that we turn young Tasmanians, whether they’re 14, 15 or 16 now, into the stars of the competition and stars for the Tasmania Devils,” Knights said.

“There’s no reason why not, even out at the VFL program the other night, I spoke to the lads and I said I’ve seen Tom Stewart and Tom Atkins first hand come through region football competitions into (the) VFL to be Tom Stewart, a generational player.

“So not only the youth of Tasmania but also the VFL guys, there’s no reason why they can’t turn into the stars of the AFL.”

Pidegon described Knights as a “leading development coach” in the AFL space and said his arrival was a “real coup” for the Devils.

“Matthew is extremely well regarded across the system. Not only for his skills, but also his exceptional ability to develop strong relationships,” he said.

“The development of talent across Tasmania and attraction of talent nationally is a key ingredient to the success of our football club. Matthew’s skills will be instrumental in the establishment and operation of Tasmania Football Club Academy.”

Knights pointed to Brendon Gale’s presence was a key factor in his decision to join the club.

They had been teammates at Richmond.

“Benny’s got an outstanding record at AFL level as a player and CEO of Richmond and now he was so invested to come down to Tassie and such enormous belief in what it means, the expansion means and what it means for the state,” he said.

“That’s a real positive, but even like guys like Jake Riewoldt and Richo (Matthew Richardson) and Alistair Lynch and all those guys are really heavily involved and even the staff I’ve met in the last 48 hours, how excited they are about the prospect of having the VFL in the short-term and then the AFL in the future.

“It’s a steep learning curve for the next three weeks but I’m looking forward to it.”

Knights’ resume includes 279 games for the Tigers followed by a three-year coaching stint at the Bombers.

He was the man tasked with leading the club after the legendary Kevin Sheedy.

He then spent time with Geelong and led the Cats to the 2012 VFL premiership. Knights was most recently an assistant coach with West Coast.

Originally published as Matthew Knights named as Tasmania Devils academy coach