Seagulls swoop on Liddell for coaching

By Brad Kingsbury
FORMER AFL and VFL forward Chad Liddell will coach Tooradin next year, it was announced officially at the club’s presentation night last week.
The announcement confirmed speculation that this year’s assistant coach Liddell would replace the coach of the past two years, Cristian O’Brien, who told the club a month before the end of the season that he would not continue in the role.
Liddell’s assistants and off-field team will be announced soon, but most of the club’s 2009 playing list is expected to remain with the Seagulls next season.
The 32-year-old goal-kicking midfielder played 29 games with Collingwood between 1995 and 1998 after being drafted at pick 30 in 1994, and then went on to become a triple-premiership player with VFL club Sandringham, before leaving at the end of 2008 and transferring to the Western Port Oval under O’Brien.
Seagulls president Chris Denereaz was happy that the position had been confirmed and said he looked forward to Liddell leading the club back to the finals.
“Cristian took some big steps last season and hopefully Chad can continue that process and momentum,” he said.
“We spoke to Chad very early and were aware of his interest in the job but thought it was appropriate that the 2009 season end properly and wind up with the presentation night before we moved on and announced him as coach.
“We’re excited at the appointment and Chad will start working to improve the side and hopefully continue towards a finals berth next year.” Denereaz said the club would also maintain its commitment to continue to build its under-18 list as a priority.