CULTURE continues to drive the success of the Irymple Football Netball Club.
The Swallows have dominated the Sunraysia Football Netball League over the past decade, playing in seven grand finals since 2010 and winning three premiership – two in the past three years.
This season again shapes as another successful one, with the club adding a number of new faces to its playing list, including the appointment of first-time senior coaches Dan Coghlan and Nick Mee,
who take over from the successful combination of Will Callow and Todd George who stood down after last year’s grand final win over arch-rivals Imperials.
Mee knows they have big shoes to fill, but is confident in their ability to continue the Swallows' success.
“Todd and Will have definitely set the standard,” Mee said on Tuesday night before training.
“I think if you look at the past six or seven grand finals, the underdogs have got up and won.
“We won it in ’17 and got done in the grand final the year after and then we came back again and won it last year.
“Our focus certainly will be to try and keep that same intensity – back-to-back (premierships) that is the aim, but first of all it is to try and make finals.
“I don’t feel that much expectation really – the structure and culture is in place.”
The appointment of Mee and Coghlan is a slight shift in direction for the Swallows who have previously had a playing and non-playing coach.
Although Mee acknowledges the challenge of combining the two roles, he is confident in the support staff he and Coghlan have around them.
“For the last six or seven years Irymple have had joint coaches – I suppose they were probably the club that started the joint coaching thing around here,” Mee said.
“I feel my role is more about guiding the boys than being seen as a coach.
“I personally don’t like coaches, non-playing coaches, standing there telling you how to play your footy. So I see my role is more about leading by example and doing the things I would expect the other players to do.
“If you look at our list, we have a lot of experience and leaders who drive the culture and expectations of the club.
“It’s not just about the coaching staff, it’s about everyone supporting each other and doing the little things which bring you success.
“Personally, I hate training, but if you work hard early and you get the rewards at the end of the season, it makes it worthwhile.”
