The Coburg Football Club wishes to advise club members and supporters of the appointment of Jamie Cassidy-McNamara to the role of Senior Men’s Coach, replacing outgoing coach Andrew Sturgess.
Cassidy-McNamara has signed for season’s 2023 and 2024, coming across following a season in VAFA Premier A with Old Trinity Grammarians’ Amateur Football Club.
Before his stint there though he spent six years with AFL side Collingwood, working full time within their AFL and VFL programs as well as working closely alongside Nathan Buckley and Robert Harvey. Since leaving Collingwood he also provided consultation in skill acquisition for English Premier League club Chelsea FC within their academy program
Over the past few months Cassidy-McNamara has consulted with Sturgess as well as the coaching staff, helping develop the design and structure of the 2023 preseason training plan and gameplan.
The incoming coach recently said that whilst it has been a whirlwind, he was excited to continue on Sturgess’ work.
“Sturg is leaving the place in a really good position and I’m really excited to jump in and get to know the players and staff and carry on what we’ve already built.”
Cassidy-McNamara is also excited about the opportunity that has opened up with the Lions.
“Clearly VFL level is a higher standard than where I’ve coached previously in terms of coaching my own team.
“The boys are all here for the same reason and that’s to get better and improve themselves, I know there’d be a lot of guys in the room that are wanting to get drafted or experience team success with Coburg.
“That presents an opportunity for everyone, coaching staff and players, in that we’re all aiming for the same things, to improve ourselves individually and win games of footy together.”
His main objective in the short term is to have a balance between developing and improving the playing group as well as having a winning culture.
“In the brief discussions I’ve had (with the leaders) so far they’re really keen to start winning games of footy.
“Clearly we haven’t won as many as we would’ve liked in the past, however what we are comfortable with is the environment that has been created. For me in the short term it’s building on that.
“I’m (also) massive on developing guys and helping them achieve their goals. If that’s to get drafted then that’s that, if not we wanna win games of footy together.”
With his experience at the top level, Cassidy-McNamara also hopes to bring along a program that the team enjoys as well as develop even further.
“What I’m looking to bring forward from my experience is developing a football program that’s going to be really enjoyable, hopefully building upon the game style that’s already here and fitting it to the strengths of the list.
“It doesn’t need to be wholesale change, but the opportunity’s there to keep improving and to perform more consistently as a team.”
To join Jamie and enter #LionMode in 2023, please become a club member today via this link:
https://coburgfc.com.au/club/membership/membership-2023/
