Shaun Smith, top far right, and the Berwick Hawks VWFL side are ready to make big leaps up the ladder this season. 77800 Picture: Jarrod Potter
By Jarrod Potter
THE Berwick Hawks received a great boost to their coaching ranks with former AFL player Shaun Smith ready to lead the club into finals contention.
Smith has coached throughout Victoria since he retired from Melbourne in 1998 and Werribee in the VFL in 2004, taking coaching positions at Newlands, East Keilor and Taylors Lakes, but took up the Berwick job after meeting the girls by chance at the Echuca racecourse.
The Hawks eventually enticed the notable marking specialist down to coach the club, and started pre-season training in November.
“I met the girls when I was coaching at Newlands with the boys,” Smith said.
“Met the girls at the races and it went from there.
“Kept in contact with Chris Smith and a few of the girls and thought why not.
Coaching in the VWFL will be new territory for Smith, having never coached a women’s football side before, but he doesn’t believe that will be an issue with the team working hard and making big strides in fitness and skill.
“I haven’t (coached women’s football),” Smith said.
“It’s definitely something new.
“I guess the popular perspective of women’s football isn’t high, but it’s been a real eye opener for me the way the girls train.
“They train harder than some of the guys and they do everything they’re told, so in that regard they’re quite professional.
“The girls reckon they’re fitter than they’ve ever been, so I’m pretty happy with their work rate and where they’re at so far.”
Just like his leaping, Smith’s aim for the Hawks is to finish high on the ladder and make the finals after a few unsuccessful consecutive campaigns.
“They missed out on the finals the last two or three years, coming in fifth, so they’re around abouts and just need to step up a bit more,” Smith said.
When asked if he expects the Hawks to take hangers the way he did, Smith said the marking bags will have to come out.
“I’ve heard there are some pretty good marks and I’ve seen the girls have pretty good hands, so we might have to get the bags out try to take speccies at training,” Smith said.
If anyone is interested in playing for the Hawks this year, contact Pam Rogers on 0412 539 903 or Cherie Charles on 0425 795 122.
