raboyle
9 Jan 2008, 20:05
From the Messenger (SA's local rag) of 9/1/08...
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Territory's Magic touch
By Reece Homfray
Legendary coach Kevin Sheedy has declined an offer by the AFLNT to spearhead its new team in an expanded SANFL competition next year. But the 60 year old has made a verbal commitment to "mentor" the side as it ventures south. The Northern Territory's bid to join the SANFL in 2009 is fast gaining momentum.
It secured 75 percent of the funding -- about $1.3 million per year -- to enter the competition and AFLNT boss Tony Frawley will start talks with his Adelaide counterpart Leigh Whicker within weeks. The NT will also meet with the West Australian Football League about joining its ranks, but SA looks the front-runner. News reports from the NT suggest providing the SANFL is happy, it is a done deal. "There's no doubt there are very strong synergies, contacts and history between Adelaide and NT footy. That's very obvious," Frawley said.
Whether the NT becomes the SANFL's 10th team rests with the competition's nine clubs that will vote on the proposal -- possibly at the league's AGM in March. Frawley confirmed no decision had been made, but the NT's current state colours of ochre, black and white would be considered. While Sheedy ruled himself out of coaching the new side, former AFL star and two-time NT coach of the year Michael "Magic" McLean is interested. McLean -- who played 183 games with Footscray and Brisbane -- was an assistant coach to Leigh Matthews at the Lions from 1999 to 2000.
Last season he coached Southern Districts to its first NTFL premiership in nine years. "I would certainly be interested (in coaching)," McLean told Messenger Newspapers. "I came back to Darwin to be a part of launching the NTFL into a major competition. And now it has stuck its head out again, there's a fair bit of interest." This year McLean is helping run a football academy in Darwin that aims to improve school attendance of young indigenous boys.
Frawley said the NT would look across the country to find the "best person" to coach the new team and McLean would be considered. He said the approach to Sheedy about coaching was made "tongue in cheek". "We wanted to sound him out and Michael Long was there when we asked him just before Christmas," Frawley said. "And he has given us a verbal commitment to mentor the new coach, help launch the concept and take a keen interest in the team."
$2.5m Federal Funding - check.
$1m State funding - check.
$1.5m AFL funding - check.
SANFL approval (pending vote of the nine SANFL clubs) - waiting...
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Territory's Magic touch
By Reece Homfray
Legendary coach Kevin Sheedy has declined an offer by the AFLNT to spearhead its new team in an expanded SANFL competition next year. But the 60 year old has made a verbal commitment to "mentor" the side as it ventures south. The Northern Territory's bid to join the SANFL in 2009 is fast gaining momentum.
It secured 75 percent of the funding -- about $1.3 million per year -- to enter the competition and AFLNT boss Tony Frawley will start talks with his Adelaide counterpart Leigh Whicker within weeks. The NT will also meet with the West Australian Football League about joining its ranks, but SA looks the front-runner. News reports from the NT suggest providing the SANFL is happy, it is a done deal. "There's no doubt there are very strong synergies, contacts and history between Adelaide and NT footy. That's very obvious," Frawley said.
Whether the NT becomes the SANFL's 10th team rests with the competition's nine clubs that will vote on the proposal -- possibly at the league's AGM in March. Frawley confirmed no decision had been made, but the NT's current state colours of ochre, black and white would be considered. While Sheedy ruled himself out of coaching the new side, former AFL star and two-time NT coach of the year Michael "Magic" McLean is interested. McLean -- who played 183 games with Footscray and Brisbane -- was an assistant coach to Leigh Matthews at the Lions from 1999 to 2000.
Last season he coached Southern Districts to its first NTFL premiership in nine years. "I would certainly be interested (in coaching)," McLean told Messenger Newspapers. "I came back to Darwin to be a part of launching the NTFL into a major competition. And now it has stuck its head out again, there's a fair bit of interest." This year McLean is helping run a football academy in Darwin that aims to improve school attendance of young indigenous boys.
Frawley said the NT would look across the country to find the "best person" to coach the new team and McLean would be considered. He said the approach to Sheedy about coaching was made "tongue in cheek". "We wanted to sound him out and Michael Long was there when we asked him just before Christmas," Frawley said. "And he has given us a verbal commitment to mentor the new coach, help launch the concept and take a keen interest in the team."
$2.5m Federal Funding - check.
$1m State funding - check.
$1.5m AFL funding - check.
SANFL approval (pending vote of the nine SANFL clubs) - waiting...