After many years playing at the top level, ex-Richmond and Port speedster turned Coburg assistant coach Matthew White has felt right at home with the Lions.
Coming into his second season as an assistant coach at Coburg, this time around White will oversee the midfield. He joined last year after 153 games at the AFL level with Richmond and Port Adelaide, representing the Lions 41 times during his time at the Tigers.
White recently said that it was a phone call from CEO Sebastian Spagnuolo that brought him back to the Lions.
“Seb reached out to me via social media and (asked if I was) ‘interested in coming back to the club,” White said.
“I played 40+ games for the club during my time at Richmond, I was always interested in getting back into coaching, I just didn’t know where and when. The opportunity arose (at Coburg) and it was too hard to say no.”
With his previous experiences at Coburg, White has felt like his return to the Lions fold has been a homecoming.
“I played TAC Cup with the Calder Cannons and we were based out at Coburg. I was signed to play with Coburg before I was drafted so there’s a bit of that homely feel.
“Obviously the facilities have changed and for the better, the shower’s are actually hot now which is something we never used to have.”
There’ve been many differences White has noticed between the Lions and AFL clubs, however he believes that there is one similarity.
“The difference between what the players are trying to do and where they’re trying to get to is very similar.
“You’ve got the AFL guys who have been drafted and are now on the journey of being an AFL player and you’ve got guys at Coburg who want to get on that journey and are doing everything they possibly can to take that next step.
“It’s very exciting as a coach and someone who’s been there gets to see that development and that journey.”
White spent his first year under the tutelage of ex-Coburg coach Andrew Sturgess, saying that he brought in good people as well as a great culture.
“Sturg was a massive influence over the club and the culture, everyone was happy and he brought in good people.”
This coming season though will see Jamie Cassidy-McNamara take over the reins, with White adding that the transition between the old and new coach has been seamless.
“We lose a good man in Sturg, (but) as I said to him when he first told us that he was getting the (Calder Cannons) job I said it was a great opportunity for him, great opportunity for us and Jamie coming on board is a great opportunity for him.
“The players have taken to Jamie pretty well so far and that’s only two weeks in basically, we’ve got another four weeks of preseason this year to go. What Jamie’s brought in is freshness, but hasn’t changed anything so it’s been pretty smooth sailing.”
And after taking over a talented midfield group, White believes that Coburg fans should be excited about the proposition of a strong midfield in season 2023.
“It’s exciting what we’re going to get this year. It’s only been two weeks of training but (I’m) starting to see a few things that have flowed on and formed its way from the back end of the season.”
By Joshua Ward
Coburg FC Media
