Gippsland Times |
THE end of the 2013 season marked the end of an era at the Maffra Football-Netball Club with Hayden and Adrian Burgiel moving on.
Hayden, who has coached the Eagles for five of the past eight seasons, has been appointed coach of Sale City for 2014, while Adrian will coach Gippsland League rival Moe next year.
A premiership winning forward at Maffra, Adrian has been appointed playing coach at the Lions following Jason MacFarlane's move to coach Trafalgar in the Mid Gippsland league.
Adrian is a five-time premiership winner with Maffra, spent two years on Richmond's rookie list, played with Perth in the WAFL and has represented Victoria Country, Western Australia and the Gippsland League.
This season he notched up his 600th goal for the Eagles.
The move will see Adrian depart a club with seven premierships in 11 years to join the back-to-back wooden spooner, a young side which is currently going through a rebuilding phase.
Adrian's move sets the stage for an epic round one encounter next season, with Moe to face Maffra in the Eagles' first game under lights.
Hayden comes to the North Gippsland league after 13 years at Maffra. He was previously on Hawthorn's list.
With the Bulldogs' senior team winning four matches in 2014, members of the Sale City recruitment committee had worked hard since late this season to secure a new coach and were extremely happy to have appointed Hayden.
Bulldogs vice-president Shane Bennett said the club was confident of improved results with Hayden coaching and recruitment which had begun.
Hayden comes to the Bulldogs after winning seven Gippsland League premierships with Maffra, two club best-and-fairest awards and two league best-and-fairest awards in addition to coaching the Gippsland interleague side for the past five years.
"Hayden's leadership and coaching ability is very impressive, added to the fact that he is still able to play exceptionally good football, he is a perfect fit for our club," Bennett said.
The Bulldogs have retained the services of 2013 coach Joel Brayshaw as well as ruckman Matthew Lutze. A number of other senior players will recommit to the club in the coming weeks with preseason training likely to see a number of new players pushing for a place in the side.
On the netball court, premierships in the under 17s and B grade have helped in generating further interests in the Bulldogs' sides. Coaches are still being sought for some grades.
Some work is being done to increase the player numbers in the higher grades and it is likely a number of the under 17 premiership players will be part of the senior teams in 2014.
Things are looking just as promising off field for the Bulldogs with new sponsors joining the club.
Club secretary Justin Henderson said the Bulldogs provided the opportunity for everyone to participate in football and netball in a safe, family friendly environment.
"From Auskick for the younger kids, through the junior grades and right through to senior football and netball. That's why so many local businesses want to sponsor and support our club," he said.
The club has re-elected David Strauss as president.
