NORTH Wangaratta has finally got its man, after signing star defender David Steer as playing coach.
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The Ovens and King club last year appointed Steer as co-coach for three seasons, but the former Ovens and Murray interleague defender still had a year to run on his contract at Wangaratta and sat out a season of football.
Hawks president Garry Devine said the club was delighted to secure the two-time Magpies premiership player on a one-year deal.
“We are very happy to have him,” Devine said yesterday.
“Officially it all happened on Wednesday.
“We thought we’d go back to the playing coach.
“It’s probably been about eight or nine years now since we’ve had a playing coach.”
Exactly 12 months ago Steer was announced as Hawks co-coach with Wayne Lovett, but the former Myrtleford star could not persuade the Magpies for an early release from his contract.
In a messy split, Wangaratta rejected Steer’s clearance, with North Wangaratta taking its case to the VCFL area appeals committee, which was then dismissed.
The Hawks then decided not to appeal the VCFL area appeals committee’s decision at the VCFL appeals board, which would have cost them $5500.
Devine said the club was disappointed it had taken so long to get Steer.
“We were disappointed,” he said.
“We did a lot of work to try to get him across.
“It was very disappointing in the end how it all happened.
“It was a bit of a dampener on things.
“He was keen as to play but he couldn’t be a part of it.
“It made it very hard for him and his family.
“Wayne stepped up and he did a fantastic job of getting the side to the finals.
“With Steer we would have been a bit better but unfortunately it didn’t happen.”
North Wangaratta is the fifth club to name a new coach for next year.
Only Bright and Bonnie Doon are yet to confirm their coaches.
