EXCITING news has been announced surrounding the Millicent Football Club, with 2018 premiership coach Clint Gallio to return to the helm for 2020 after a stint with the Northern Territory Thunder in the North East Australian Football League.
He will take the reins from outgoing coach Lyndon Smith, who is stepping down from the role at the end of the year due to family commitments.
“My wife is due with our third child in November and to be fair to my family and the players it is the best decision,” Smith said.
“In light of that, I obviously did not want to leave the club in the lurch and have been helping the committee look for a new coach.
“Clint all of a sudden was available to take the role on so he will come back in as coach.”
Gallio will instruct from the sidelines for the first half of the season, as he recovers from an ACL injury – the opposite knee to his 2018 injury – which ended his season in the NEAFL early after playing 10 games.
However, Smith has already signed on as a player for 2020 and will be a vital link in providing on-field leadership to the young group.
That has been a key focus for Smith this season and while success has been limited, 2019 has provided a chance to blood the future stars of the club.
A total of five Under 18’s and three Under 16’s stepped up in A Grade for Saturday’s round 11 clash against North Gambier, which resulted in a close 10-point loss for the Saints.
“My focus this year was about the kids and seeing that development in them to follow a game plan and grow as senior players,” Smith said.
“I think we are up to 13 different Under 18’s to have had a go in A Grade.
“We are hovering around the 40-player mark who have played in A Grade this year, which probably reflects back on how bad our injury and player availability has been.
“But it is a credit to Millicent for its depth.”
While the Saints have not tasted victory at this point in the season, they have shown they are capable of good things with two close losses to West and North – who sit first and second on the ladder respectively.
“When you take 10-plus premiership players out of any team it will take a bit of time to find that chemistry again,” Smith said.
“Then you have injuries on top of that as well.”
Despite the challenges faced in his first year as a coach, Smith said it has been a rewarding experience and it is “bitter-sweet” to step down from the role.
“It is obviously challenging, but there is more reward I suppose, especially in games like on the weekend when you see the development,” he said.
“It has definitely been enjoyable, but I just cannot take on the responsibility again next year – my focus and attention needs to be at home.”
Smith said his decision was made around a similar time to him fracturing his spine against North back in round six.
That injury saw him sidelined for an extended period, only returning to the field on Saturday, also against the Tigers.
However, Smith is eager to finish the season strongly and looks forward to pulling on the boots again in 2020.
He said the close match against North showed promise and hopes to carry the momentum into the final five games of the year.
Smith has confidence in Gallio’s coaching ability and the two should compliment each other, particularly during the first half of the season when Gallio is unable to lead on the ground.
“He demands the best from everyone around him and gets results,” Smith said.
It all provides the Millicent Football Club with some much-needed excitement looking forward and it will be interesting to see how the team shapes up during the off-season.
“I had my list of recruits for the second year, but I have since passed that list on to Clint,” Smith said.
“It is ultimately up to him and the committee he will have running.”
