Dual SFL premiership coach to take reins at State League level for first time with Lauderdale
Lauderdale has appointed its second head coach for the 2021 TSL season in the space of five months, with Daniel Willing replacing Clinton Brown after the latter stepped down permanently. LATEST >>
Sport
Don't miss out on the headlines from Sport. Followed categories will be added to My News.
TWO time SFL premiership coach Daniel Willing will take the reins at State League level for the first time after being announced as Lauderdale’s senior coach for 2021.
Willing, who served as an assistant to long time Bombers mentor Darren Winter last year, replaces Clinton Brown — who sensationally announced he was taking a break last week just five months after being appointed Winter’s successor.
The club has now confirmed Brown, who is believed to be dealing with some off field issues, has stepped down permanently,
Willing, who had a one year stint as a Lauderdale assistant in 2013 and spent two years at Hobart in the TSL in 2010-11, guided Lindisfarne to back-to-back SFL premierships in 2018-19.
The first broke a 29-year drought at senior level for the Two Blues and came after the club had lost consecutive grand finals to New Norfolk.
He will have plenty of experience in his corner as he steps up to TSL senior level for the first time, with boom recruit and AFL premiership player Allen Christensen named as a playing assistant.
Lauderdale has also announced Jarred Westell as head coach of its development team while captain Bryce Walsh has been named playing midfield coach.
“The club would like to acknowledge the major contribution made by Clint Brown over the past five years as a player, development league coach, senior assistant coach and head coach
throughout a most successful 2021 pre-season,” Bombers president Julie Kay said.
“Clint has made the decision to step away from coaching to spend more time with his wife, his four young children and extended family.
“Lauderdale Football Club thank him and wish him well into the future.”
Winter, who is the State League’s longest serving coach after spending 11 years at the Bombers, including three consecutive grand final appearances, announced he would not continue last October.
James Bresnehan
March 4, 2021
ONLY four months after replacing Darren Winter as senior coach at Lauderdale, the TSL Bombers dropped a bombshell by revealing Clint Brown is on a “break”.
The Lauderdale playing group was told on Tuesday night. Club president Julie Kay revealed the shock move today.
“He’s taking a break for a few weeks to deal with some personal matters,” Kay said.
“In the interim, it’s business as usual.”
Former Lindisfarne dual premiership-winning coach Daniel Willing, who joined Lauderdale last year as Winter’s assistant-coach, will take the Bombers through training and practice games for the duration of Brown’s absence.
Lauderdale’s gun recruit, former Geelong premiership star and Brisbane Lions livewire, Allen Christensen, will help Willing take the Bombers through their pre-season preparations.
“Daniel and Allen will take the reins for that time and we are very much looking forward to the start of the season and our first game against Clarence,” Kay said.
Winter is now senior coach at Geelong Football League club North Shore Seagulls, with former Essendon VFL midfielder Nick Dixon as his co-coach.
Brown was announced as his replacement on October 27.
Busiest man in Australia? Brendon Gale’s massive to-do list as Tassie Devils CEO
Incoming Tasmanian Devils CEO Brendon Gale will have a mountain of work on his desk for his first day in the role in February. Here are the priorities he must tackle to ensure the newest AFL club is a success.
Blues lock in dynamic duo in signing coup
Two of the NTFA’s most dangerous players have signed with Launceston, and chasing representative goals is a major factor behind their return to Windsor Park.