The youngest coaches in the Bellarine Football League (BFL) will spearhead Queenscliff’s 2016 finals campaign.
Former Geelong Football League (GFL) talents Andrew Hodgson, 26, and Jono Casey, 24, have taken over the reigns of the job from Tom Limb and Steven Owen. The duo, who were part of last season’s winning St Joseph’s senior side - playing under former Queenscliff coach Heath Jamieson - decided early last season they wanted to try their hand at coaching. “We’d heard nothing but good things about Queenscliff as a whole, not just on-field but off-field as well, which is really important,” Hodgson said. “It was something that we didn’t have to think too much about because we’d spoken at length earlier in the year about if something like this came up.”
Hodgson has two years of assistant coaching within the Kyneton District Football League under his belt. He also coached last season’s St Joseph’s U/16 side.
“Whilst we’re quite young… I think we bring a youthful look on coaching,” said Casey. “I know the last couple of coaches here have been 25. You can relate really well to the group you’re playing with and you’re coaching alongside. “I think obviously being with Jamo [Jamieson] the last couple of years we’ve learnt how to bring a really good culture around the club…and getting good people to the club and creating a bit of excitement as well.” The pair say they will seek guidance from Limb and Owen, who will continue to play this season, but will bring their own coaching styles.
“We know that it’s a lot of hard work and coming into a new league you want to impress, not only on the coaching side but playing as well. We still think we’ve got a lot to offer as players and we’ll be working as hard as anyone to make sure we’re playing well in what is a new environment for us. We’ve never played in this league, we’ve never really played against these clubs,“ Hodgson said. They are also keen to see the Coutas back at the top of the ladder.
“We’re not saying we’re going to win six or seven or eight games, but we certainly want to get the best out of the group and hopefully what we bring can help do that. “If we can field a full squad there’s no reason why we can’t be really competitive with the top-end teams,” said Casey.
Meanwhile Queenscliff’s player stocks have risen with the return of Triple premiership player Daniel Gibbs and the signing of Bell Park talent Jason Graham. Gibbs has spent the past two years playing with St Josephs and the Geelong VFL side.
Former Geelong Football League (GFL) talents Andrew Hodgson, 26, and Jono Casey, 24, have taken over the reigns of the job from Tom Limb and Steven Owen. The duo, who were part of last season’s winning St Joseph’s senior side - playing under former Queenscliff coach Heath Jamieson - decided early last season they wanted to try their hand at coaching. “We’d heard nothing but good things about Queenscliff as a whole, not just on-field but off-field as well, which is really important,” Hodgson said. “It was something that we didn’t have to think too much about because we’d spoken at length earlier in the year about if something like this came up.”
Hodgson has two years of assistant coaching within the Kyneton District Football League under his belt. He also coached last season’s St Joseph’s U/16 side.
“Whilst we’re quite young… I think we bring a youthful look on coaching,” said Casey. “I know the last couple of coaches here have been 25. You can relate really well to the group you’re playing with and you’re coaching alongside. “I think obviously being with Jamo [Jamieson] the last couple of years we’ve learnt how to bring a really good culture around the club…and getting good people to the club and creating a bit of excitement as well.” The pair say they will seek guidance from Limb and Owen, who will continue to play this season, but will bring their own coaching styles.
“We know that it’s a lot of hard work and coming into a new league you want to impress, not only on the coaching side but playing as well. We still think we’ve got a lot to offer as players and we’ll be working as hard as anyone to make sure we’re playing well in what is a new environment for us. We’ve never played in this league, we’ve never really played against these clubs,“ Hodgson said. They are also keen to see the Coutas back at the top of the ladder.
“We’re not saying we’re going to win six or seven or eight games, but we certainly want to get the best out of the group and hopefully what we bring can help do that. “If we can field a full squad there’s no reason why we can’t be really competitive with the top-end teams,” said Casey.
Meanwhile Queenscliff’s player stocks have risen with the return of Triple premiership player Daniel Gibbs and the signing of Bell Park talent Jason Graham. Gibbs has spent the past two years playing with St Josephs and the Geelong VFL side.