Doveton hard-man Clint Wilson will replace Tom Hallinan as Doveton’s playing coach next season. 21836 Picture: Stewart ChambersBy Brad Kingsbury
DOVETON appointed captain of six years and favourite son Clint ‘Bull’ Wilson as its senior coach on Monday night, completing the final piece of the 2009 Casey Cardinia league coaching puzzle.
Wilson, 27, will be a playing coach and replaces Tom Hallinan, who was effectively sacked after one season at the helm.
The ruckman and career-long Doveton stalwart said he had considered coaching for several seasons and the time was right.
“Steve (Henwood) wanted me to take over from him but he left earlier than expected and I thought that now was the best time to do it, while I’m still young,” Wilson said.
“When you’re over 30 the body isn’t as good and you can’t play the same footy, so now was a good time to do it.’
Although he had only started assessing the Doves’ list, Wilson said that there were areas that needed to be addressed immediately.
“Straight away we’ve targeted a couple of bigger forwards and another ruckman to share the work with me,” he said.
“The side is thereabouts and we were lucky to be able to get a few games into a few young blokes this year.”
He said that only full commitment would be accepted during his tenure and believed that immediate success was possible.
“I want the whole group to be more committed. I’ve taken on the role and I want everyone on board from the start,” Wilson said.
“It’s a big job but hopefully everyone can get behind me and really have a crack at it.”
Wilson has been appointed for only one season at present and is talking to a couple of potential assistants and expects to announce his team in the next week.
He said the players would get together and have a few training runs before Christmas, and would include boxing training at a Dandenong South gym owned by one of his mates.
Wilson’s appointment came despite president Mark Woolgar confirming that Hallinan was to stay on as non-playing coach during this year’s finals series.
However, the club committee met recently and decided to conduct interviews before confirming any appointment.
Hallinan said he was bitterly disappointed at the move after retiring as a player with the express intention of concentrating on his coaching role with the Doves.
“I’m disappointed for the club as well. I really thought we were heading in the right direction but they’ve made their decision so we’ll move on,” he said after Woolgar contacted him with the bad news on Tuesday morning.
“I won’t coach this year now but I might have a kick somewhere again.
“I only retired so that I could concentrate on coaching the club.”
Former Berwick and Beaconsfield leader Daniel Charles was also interviewed for the Doves coaching role after it was declared open.
