South Broken Hill Football Club has appointed championship coach Craig Thomas for the 2023 season as it aims to secure its fifth flag in a row in the men’s A grade..
Key points:
- Craig Thomas led South Broken Hill to back-to-back premierships as an A Grade coach
- He says he wants to help shape and mould the next generation of South football players
- The club has now won four flags in a row at the A Grade
The newly installed coaching director will oversee the men’s A and B grades as well as the women’s, colts and junior level teams for the Roos.
This will be Thomas’s latest stint in the top job after holding the position for several years across various seasons
However, Thomas’s main reason for returning was to be able to guide the next generation of South footy players.
“That’s 90 per cent of the reason I’m back at the helm for A grade this year,” he said.
“It’s because of what I have seen start to develop last year in under-18s and what we can do going forward.”
Returning after a stint away
The successful Broken Hill coach initially led the Roos to back-to-back titles in 2014 and 2015 before heading north to coach in Brisbane.
Since his first departure the club has gone on to win four premierships in a row at the men’s A grade level.
The men’s B grade team has now won ten flags in a row after defeating North Broken Hill in 2022.
Now he is back in the hot seat Thomas said he wants to get “his hands into” the nuts and bolts of the development for the young players at his club.
“There is about six or seven [under-18 players] that I’m really looking forward to getting my hands into for the preseason,” he said.
“My main aim this year is to develop them as best and as fast as we can so South can have another platform ready to launch forward for the next five years as well.”
Source: AFL NEWS ABC
