NEW Wodonga Saints coach Gerard Midson is unfazed by the challenge of lifting the club off the bottom of the ladder.
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Midson, who has spent the past two seasons in charge of Upper Murray league club Federal, believes the Saints aren’t as far off the pace as the ladder suggests.
“I’m looking forward to the challenge,” Midson said.
“It’s always a daunting task taking on a job at a club which hasn’t won a game but we are pretty excited by what’s happening going forward.
“They were in a lot of games at three-quarter-time last year and got ran over so we will do a fair bit on our fitness base over pre-season.
“I’ve spoken to guys from other clubs and they say Wodonga Saints aren’t that far off.”
Mark Fabris has committed as a non-playing assistant-coach while Wodonga Saints are in negotiations with a playing assistant.
Troy Vennix and Gavin Cadman will take control of the reserves.
Midson took Federal into the finals in his two seasons at Federal and has previously coached Rutherglen and Howlong’s reserves.
“The indications are we are keeping most of our list and we’re talking to some recruits at the moment,” Midson said.
“It’s looking positive.
“There is a bit of a buzz at the club and having people like Troy stick around gives us real stability.”
Wodonga Saints president Adrian Barry said Midson had hit the ground running.
“It’s been good,” Barry said.
“He’s jumped in head first and been very proactive.
“He’s contacting a lot of new guys and it’s great to have some fresh enthusiasm come in the door.”
Wodonga Saints have plans in place to field an under-17 side after being unable to come up with enough numbers this year.
Barry said juniors were crucial to the club’s future.
“The kids are the most important part of any footy club,” Barry said.
“We go pretty well in the under-12 and 14s but having that gap in the under-17s forces our kids to go and play elsewhere which is unfortunate.
“The kids are the future of our sport.”
Midson’s appointment means all clubs have coaches with Phil Packer and Ben Dower (Mitta United), Brett Doswell (Thurgoona), Adam Mudra (KSC), Brent Lillis (Yackandandah), Shaun Pritchard (Beechworth), Peter Cook (Barnawartha), Sam Livingston (Tallangatta), Ricky Whitehead (Chiltern), Nathan Parker and Kodee Lowe (Wahgunyah), Dan Athanitis and Damien Wilson (Rutherglen) and Jack Neil (DMB) locked in.
