Long serving player and coach Matt Cannard the new senior coach at Southern Districts

SOUTHERN Districts has wasted no time in signing premiership player and Nichols medallist Matt Cannard as its senior coach for the 2020-21 NTFL season

Southern Districts has named star midfielder Matt Cannard as their new senior coach after Shannon Rusca’s nine-year reign ended last month. Picture: Keri Megelus

SOUTHERN Districts has wasted no time in signing premiership player and Nichols medallist Matt Cannard as its senior coach for the 2020-21 NTFL season.

A key player in Districts’ 2006-07 premiership side and a Nichols Medal winner as the league’s best and fairest player three years later, Cannard played 245 games in a Crocodile jumper in a 15-season career.

A big part of Districts’ senior coaching panel in Shannon Rusca’s nine years at the helm, Cannard was also a big success at junior level where he steered the under-18 Crocodiles to a flag in 2016-17 in between regular finals appearances.

A hard hitting, straight ahead midfielder who was part of Territory Thunder’s inaugural side in Brisbane’s QAFL competition, 36-year-old Cannard wants to continue the coaching philosophies at Districts that were put in place by Rusca and Michael McLean before him.

“Obviously I’m looking forward to the challenge knowing I’ve got some big shoes to fill with Shannon having a lot of success and Mago (Michael McLean) as well,’’ Cannard said.

“I’m pretty fortunate Shannon has left the club in a very good position on and off the field and hopefully I can continue the good work he has done.

“There won’t be a lot of changes in the club’s methods, I want to keep the people at the club who have brought us a lot of success in the last five or six years.’’

Club president Joanne Burgess said Cannard was the obvious choice to replace Rusca after impressing Districts people with his knowledge and commitment to develop young players.

“We were pleased to be able to keep our succession plan happening and we’re thrilled to have Matty on board with his familiarity with the players and how the club functions,’’ she said.

“We wanted to look internally before advertising for the role and after Shannon’s recommendation to secure Matty as his replacement we didn’t have to look very far for the best candidate.

“At this stage it is a one-year appointment, but we envisage extending that because one season is not enough to achieve what you want as a senior coach.’’