NEW Heathcote recruit Codie Price says he is looking forward to further developing his leadership as an assistant coach with the Saints.
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Price is joining the Saints after a seven-year stint with Sandhurst in which he won a premiership in 2016, best and fairest in 2015 and has represented the BFNL in inter-league for the past three seasons.
“I’m looking forward to being able to develop my leadership ability a bit more as an assistant coach,” Price said on Friday.
READ MORE – Heathcote District league 2018 season review
Originally from Woorinen, Price forged a reputation as one of the premier half-back flankers in the BFNL, with his polished ball-use and creativity out of defence a major asset for Sandhurst.
The Dragons played finals in all seven of Price’s seasons at the club, including in three grand finals.
However, the 24-year-old’s new club is in a contrasting position. The Saints last played finals in the Heathcote District league in 2013 and in the five years since have won just 11 of 80 games.
“That’s part of the challenge as well… I’ve heard some good things about their depth and a few other things and, hopefully, we can be competitive and win a few more games,” Price said.
Price is the first recruit announced by the Saints, whose new coach is his uncle, Wayne Primmer, who coached Sandhurst’s 2016 premiership.
“It’s a really good signing for us and a step-up for Codie’s career in terms of the assistant coaching,” Primmer said.
“He’s the type of player we really need. He will be in charge of the back half and when we’re bringing the ball out of the back half we need players who are highly skilled, which is what he is.
“He reads the game really well… he knows when he needs to defend and when he can attack. We’re not expecting him to be best on ground every week, we’ll be wanting him to bring that experience he has, look after the back half and just play his role.”
Price finished fifth in Sandhurst’s best and fairest this year, which attaches an extra point to his player point rating at the Saints.
While Price is a strong start to the Saints’ recruiting campaign, they have lost ruckman Daniel Russell to Rochester.
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