SUSTAINED success is every president’s goal, and Col McClounan believes it is one that can be achieved at Wangaratta.
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McClounan took over the Magpies presidency from Paul Challman in a bloodless annual general meeting on Tuesday night, meaning the Magpies will start next year with a new president and coach, following Mark Knobel’s appointment in September.
Former Magpies player and coach McClounan said he wanted to continue the good work by Challman, who oversaw two premierships and several big projects in seven years in the job.
“We want to try to develop a sustained and strong club,” McClounan said yesterday.
“I’m excited. The footy club has had some success over the years.
“It’s dropped away a little bit but I think we’ve got such a good young base coming through.
“Having won the last two thirds premierships and a netball premiership (in C grade) there’s some really good things to look forward to.”
It will be McClounan’s first year on the nine-person board.
He will be joined by other new faces Joe McKenzie, Damien Sheridan and Kristian Hedin.
Challman, who will stay involved at the club, said he had “handed the reins over”.
“It’s a new era, with new blood and new helpers,” Challman said.
McClounan’s club ties have now gone full circle.
He played more than 100 games, mainly as a ruck-rover, for the Magpies and was coach in 2000 and 2001.
McClounan, was named in the best in the 1994 Rovers premiership under Laurie Burt, also coached Whorouly and Greta and won the Ovens and King’s Baker Medal in 1998.
Before that he was captain at Melbourne outfit De La Salle, represented the Victorian amateurs and was named in the All-Australian amateurs team.
McClounan said the presidency was “the next step” .
“I’ve just got a really good connection to the place and want to see it do well,” he said.
“What we’ve been able to do is attract three or four good new people on the board and retain some experienced people.”