Community Footy coaching moves for 2024 – Western and Northern Zones

By Peter Argent

In a short series of articles Peter Argent looks at the new and returning coaches in the various zones of Community Football. In the second of these he concentrates on the West Coast and the Northern parts of the state.

 In the Eastern Eyre Football League Mark “Megs” Enright is coaching Kimba Districts at A grade level this year.

The older brother of Australian Football Hall of Famer, Corey, he has coached the Kimba colts very successfully for the past few seasons.

He was a member of Kimba’s first two Eastern Eyre flags in 1989 and 1990, before moving to Port Lincoln.

At Marble Range, he was captain of three titles, winning two Michael Hegarty Medals for best on ground in the decider, and coached one of those in 2000.

For the next 15 years, he was involved in the highly-credentialed Geelong Football League with South Barwon, playing in the 2005-06 premierships, and then was assistant coach in an era which yielded eight Grand Final wins in 10 years.

“I’m a big fan of open high scoring game of footy,” Enright confirmed.

“I moved back to Kimba in 2018 and took on the colts coaching job.

“It’s circular when it comes to underage football and we had a strong team last season, being undefeated.

“We travel at least an hour for every away game.

“Corey and I chat regularly, while we both have busy schedules, but we make time to catch up a couple of times a week.”

Corey Enright is currently one of Ross Lyon’s assistants at the St Kilda Football Club.

Micah Van Loon is the other new coach in the EEFL, in charge of Central Eyre United Storm for this year.

Micah was a Central Eyre junior, having played for RSMU and Pinnaroo, and also represented SA Country in 2017.

Micah has had trouble with a couple of ACL injuries.

Greg Parkes (Eastern Ranges), Kym Martens (Cowell) and Aseri Raikiwasa (Ports) are all continuing on in 2024.

In the six-team, Port Lincoln Football League (PLFL), at the Marble Range Magpies, Tynan Keeley has taken over the senior role.

A long-time “Ranger”, he will undertake his first match as senior coach on Anzac Day at Centenary Oval against fellow 2023 Grand Finalists South.

Carl Semmler is back at Tasmans. He was last in the role in 2020, enjoying three titles in the row before having a break.

The Boston Tigers have the services of Aisea “Magic” Raikiwaski, who played in the Wimmera League with Dimboola Roos last season.

A Glenelg league and SA state country footballer, he has enjoyed flags in 2013 with Tasman’s (PLFL), at Nuriootpa under Henry Slattery in 2018 and with Port Neill in 2022.

“It (the Port Neill flag) was pretty special as Bobby and young brother Leonard played alongside me, while my step dad, Trevor McDonough was assistant coach,” Magic explained.

“Boston have a heap of youth coming through, with the Tigers Under 18s having a successful culture.

“We have freshened the list up, but it is expectation verses reality.

“We have great facilities and excellent lighting here, hosting a night match for round one.”

Aisea Raikiwaski will coach for the first time against his former house-mate and 2013 premiership team mate, “Recruit” winner Yoey Wagner, who is the mentor of the reigning premiers Lincoln South Eagles in round four, on May 18 for the first time.

In the six-team amalgamated competition, at Ceduna Blues, 200-game stalwart and 2012 Far West Mail Medalist David Wright takes over the coach of Ceduna Blues in 2024.

Unfortunately, Wright will miss the season as he recovers from an ACL injury received late in 2023.

The Koonibba Roosters will be led by premiership pair Wayne Miller and Kingsley Ware, and they are set for a turnaround in season 2024.

After a challenging 2023 season that saw them with only one win and a rare wooden spoon, the team’s strong preseason campaign has sparked hope for a successful year ahead.

Triple Mail Medalist Dom Denton returns as coach of Thevenard in 2024. This is Dom’s fourth year as coach of the Magpies, and after returning to the finals in 2023, he will look to lift the side deep into the major round.

At Wirrulla, William Newchurch, a former coach of the Koonibba Football Club, will lead the club this season.

The Bombers will aim to reach their first finals series in the Western Eyre Football League this season.

Aidan Whitford, the games record holder for the West Coast Hawks, is the new coach in 2024, the fourth coach in four years for the Streaky Bay-based club.

Whitford was the assistant coach of the winning Mortlock Shield team last year and is a highly respected figure in Eyre Peninsula football.

A Western United, Craig Irvine returns as coach of last year’s premiers, Western United.

He returned to coaching in 2023 after a number of years to guide the Tigers to the premiership, after the Tigers lost grand finals in 2021 and 2022.

Last year’s premiership was Irvine’s fourth triumph as he coached for Western United to flags in 2006, 2007, and 2008.

There are three new bosses at Great Flinders Football League (GFFL) clubs in 2024.

Dual Sturt premiership forward and one-time Port Magpies player Kory Beard takes on the role at the Lock Roos.

He has enjoyed a pair of undefeated seasons with Marble Range 2021 and ’22.

“Last year I returned to played with Lock,” Beard, now 33, told SANFL.com.au

“I’d done a bit of underage coaching at Marble Range and the Lincoln District sides.

“Playing up forward, I certainly prefer an attacking style of game.

“(I) endeavour to impart knowledge I’ve gained and enjoy teaching what I learnt to the youth.

“Martin Mattner and Tony “Bangers” Bamford were strong mentors across my journey.”

Former Port Adelaide and WWT Eagles footballer, who was the SA state country coach, Luke Duncan, is the new man at United Yeelanna.

He takes over from Reece Frances, with the Eagles being the dominant side in the GFFL across the last decade.

At the Eyre United Saints, school teacher Shane Masson is looking after the struggling club, looking to make them competitive after a handful of tough years.

The four coaches continuing are Julian Wait at the Ramblers and Thomas Phelps at the Cummins Cougars both for a second year.

At Tumby Bay, Craig Curtis, Sturt footballer Michael’s older brother, continued in his role, while Elliston District evergreen veteran Scott “Fingers” Feltus is in charge again.

There is only one new face in the coaching ranks in the Spencer Gulf League.

Indigenous star and former North Adelaide footballer Kriston Thompson is the new mentor at South Augusta Bulldogs.

He has a wealth of experience in the game, being an SA state Under 18s player and clocking up 85 league games with the North Adelaide Roosters, before his glittering career in the SGL.

Thompson replace Jamie Boles, who took the club to a string of five consecutive flags.

All three Port Pire teams, six-time premiership legend Jamie McNamara at Ports, 500-game Crystal Brook stalwart and dual Mail Medal Joel Head at Solomontown and reigning premiership coach Matt Promnitz at Props-Risdson Lions continue in their roles.

Fellow clubs from Augusta, West with Michael Kerley and Central with Ryan Struck, also continue in 2024.

Up in the Far North Football League, the Roxby Districts Miners’ new coach is Jack Sires.

He is a former Sacred Heart Old Collegians footballer and the Miners premiership co-captain in 2023.

For the Olympic Dam Devils, Scott Deek returning after a couple of years.

At the Hornridge Magpies, Jack Rigden and Jim Feltus are in change.

East Roxby Roos are in the process of appointing their coach.

The Far North league starts on April 27.