No disruptions for Lauderdale despite change of coach on eve of State League season

A whirlwind few days saw Daniel Willing accept the head coach role at Lauderdale following Clinton Brown’s stunning departure, but it’s business as usual for the Bombers. WILLING’S FIRST INTERVIEW AS HEAD COACH >>

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LANDING a head coaching role at TSL level was not the driving factor for Daniel Willing to return to the league but he didn’t hesitate in accepting the responsibility at Lauderdale for the upcoming season.

A two-time SFL premiership coach with Lindisfarne, Willing joined the Bombers last year as an understudy to Darren Winter, having spent 2013 working alongside the long-serving master.

Willing didn’t apply for the main role when Winter ended his 11-year tenure last October, but finds himself in the hot seat just a fortnight from the start of the 2021 campaign after the club confirmed he was replacing Clinton Brown.

New Lauderdale head coach Daniel Willing had no hesitation in accepting the job after Clinton Brown quit just five months into the role. Picture: Eddie Safarik

Having been in the position for only five months Brown — who is believed to be dealing with some off-field issues — stepped down permanently after the Bombers announced he was taking a break several weeks ago.

Despite the potential for disruption so close to round one, Willing is confident it will be smooth sailing as he embarks on a somewhat unexpected journey.

“It’s been a bit of a whirlwind couple of days, it has all happened pretty quickly but it is starting to sink in now and [I’m] looking forward to the opportunity,” Willing told the Mercury.

“I’m not sure if striving for [a head coaching role] is the right term, but it is definitely something that has been in the back of mind for a number of years now.

“I remember when Windy contacted me about coming down, we had a conversation around it because I was contemplating having a year off and he gave me the advice of getting back into the system.

“It is so different in the SFL, there is so much more to it in the TSL just to get my head around that and if I wanted to do it in the future, being in the system now was going to be beneficial.

“He was spot on, I learned a lot last year and I feel like I’m ready to go.

“There was no hesitation … it’s happened pretty quickly. When the club contacted me to say Clint had stepped down we got together and we looked at what might fit the club best in terms of the club, the players, the coaches.

“The decision was made that I was the best fit to take over as head coach and it didn’t take me long to take the opportunity, that’s for sure.

“That will be the message to the players, nothing really changes, there is just a different voice at the front of the group from here on in.”

Lauderdale recruit Allen Christensen has signed with the club as playing assistant coach. Picture: RICHARD JUPE

Willing will have the perfect assistant in former Geelong AFL premiership forward Allen Christensen, who is lining up for his first taste of State League football.

“I will lean on him a lot this season. Since this went down I’ve had a conversation with him and he’s been great to me and I am learning a lot from him,” Willing said.

“He will look after a lot of our game plan and strategy, that will be his role, he has already had a big impact on that through the pre-season and he will continue to do that.”

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