Colbinabbin Football Club legend Phillip Morgan has re-joined the Grasshoppers for his third stint as senior coach.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
A three-time premiership coach with Colbinabbin in the Heathcote District Football League, Morgan takes over from Matt Pinniger, who stepped down after last season due to work and family commitments.
“They initially asked me not long after Matt had pulled the pin, I was going to do it but for other reasons didn’t, but then I had a bit of a change of mind so away we go,” Morgan said.
Pinniger led the Grasshoppers to third on the HDFL ladder last season but the club was bundled-out of the finals in straight-sets.
Morgan expects the majority of last year’s squad to return in 2013 and build on Colbinabbin’s first finals appearance since 2009.
“I think most of them will commit, hopefully, and we’ll just keep bouncing along,” he said.
“It looks like we could probably lose a couple. Matty Riordon’s talking about going overseas and Jack Lloyd, blokes like that would be big losses but they haven’t got on a plane and gone yet.”
Morgan will attempt to bring some former players back to bolster his squad.
“We’ve got a fair few local blokes playing like Stevie Tuohey at Golden Square seconds and a couple of blokes at Rochy that we’re going to try and get back, top up a bit from last year and keep it going,” he said.
Morgan last coached the Grasshoppers in 2000’s losing grand final, when Mount Pleasant denied him three consecutive premierships.
Before that he was playing-coach from 1990 to ‘92, when the club won the 1991 flag.
Morgan, 47, has been back involved with coaching in the past two seasons, leading the HDFL’s inter-league team to consecutive victories.
Colbinabbin president Tait Hamilton said the Grasshopper’s were pleased to appoint the club legend.
“He knows the club, is a local and has a very good connection with our kids,” Hamilton said.
“His extended family still resides in Colbinabbin and that’s what we’re all about is family, so I think it’s going to be a great fit.”