DEDERANG-Mount Beauty has appointed Damien Jones and Daniel Manning as caretaker coaches for the rest of the season.
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Jones and Manning, who have been playing for the Bombers since 2011, were promoted to the Tallangatta and District league club’s top position in the wake of Marc Almond’s sacking last week.
Jones said the club was determined to get something out of the season.
“We are playing a lot of juniors and with juniors you get up and down days,” Jones said.
“Obviously the Kiewa loss didn’t look great but I rate them as the flag favourites by a long way.
“I can’t see anyone getting near them.
“With our group there are still a lot of positives and we’re not sacking the coach and writing off the year.
“It’s not the circumstances I would have liked to have got the job, but I’m looking forward to the challenge and hopefully we can play well and bring some of the kids along.”
While Jones will continue playing for Dederang-Mount Beauty, Manning is set to spend more time in the coaching box in a non-playing capacity.
Dederang-Mount Beauty and Wodonga Saints are the only winless teams in the competition after five rounds with the Bombers desperate to end their losing streak against Yackandandah on Saturday.
Jones, who played in Tallangatta’s premiership in 2009 after playing the bulk of his football at Wodonga, said youngsters would be given every opportunity for the rest of the season.
“I’m 28 and I think I’m the second oldest player in the side,” he said.
“We have some good kids coming through.
“Nick Iaria played interleague at the weekend, and we have a lot of others like Liam Hood, Ben Cook and Jake Pronk coming through.
“We just have to look ahead and not back.”
Jones admitted the bye had come in handy after the Kiewa-Sandy Creek thrashing and Almond’s departure.
“I think the boys are looking forward to seeing how we go against Yack,” he said.
“Obviously they will be hard to beat with Trent Castles in good form, but we have Darren Bradshaw and he’s hard to stop when he gets going.
“We’ll see how we go.”
Yackandandah has one win from five matches and will be desperate to grab the points with a tough run ahead against Thurgoona, Mitta United and Kiewa-Sandy Creek.
Thurgoona hosts Barnawartha in the match of the round.
The Bulldogs will start slight favourites, despite trailing the Tigers by two points on the ladder.