DON’T be shocked if both Wodonga clubs are on the hunt for a new coach in the coming weeks.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
It’s looking likely.
Raiders co-coach Simon Bone hinted at the possibility of stepping aside following Sunday’s 10-point win over the Bulldogs in the derby.
“I’m happy to be involved, but I’ve got to be the right bloke to do it, as well,” Bone said when asked if he was going to go on next season.
“We’re sitting 3-9, so some things have to change.
“That’s a combination of personnel, as well as whether or not it is the coaching staff.
“The footy club will have a look at where it sits overall.
“It’s something the club is looking at.”
The Raiders’ playing coach, Ben Klemke, still has another year to run on his contract and is unlikely to be going anywhere.
The Raiders are yet to find stability on the coaching front since Corey Lambert pulled the pin at the end of 2012, with his replacement Ken Stevenson only lasting one season at the helm.
Trent Castles, who signed on to be an assistant under new coach Klemke and Stevenson, returned to Tallangatta and District League club Yackandandah just months after accepting his position with the Ovens and Murray club.
Wodonga, meanwhile, has publicly declared its intent of luring a playing coach from a state league after Ben Hollands announced last month he’d be standing down after four seasons in charge.
The two Wodonga clubs sit pegged to the bottom of the ladder, with Wod-onga all but assured of collecting its second wooden spoon in four seasons following Sunday’s defeat.
JYDON Neagle’s efforts over the weekend were super.
After dominating for Victoria Country against the city boys on Saturday, the AFL draft hopeful then backed up in Sunday’s crucial Wodonga derby for the Raiders.
While he drifted in and out of the contest, he made several important contributions that helped steer the Raiders over the line.
Neagle, who should be given a crack by Essendon in some form next year, will go in for surgery on his shoulder this week in the hope of boosting his draft chances.
He deserves a go at a higher level.
HISTORY has repeated itself.
Wangaratta Rovers copped a clip for their second half against Lavington in round 3 and here we are again.
The Hawks again showed they were up for the fight against the Panthers on Saturday but, again, they wilted when the heat was put on them in the second half.
Last time, they responded by belting Wodonga Raiders the following week and while they may do so again on Saturday, it means nothing until they can stick with a premiership contender.
The Hawks are capable of doing that, they just haven’t shown it yet.