The following is a copy of an article in the Sporting Section of Leader Community Newspaper from 28 October 2015
NEW Avondale Heights coach Daniel Archer believes a little bit of “smart recruiting” could help engineer a return to finals football next year.
Archer was appointed to the club’s top job earlier this month, after the departure of Saade Ghazi, following a tough Essendon District Football League Premier Division season.
The Heights finished fifth on the ladder, three games adrift of fourth-placed Keilor, and never really featured in the finals mix throughout the year, after making a preliminary final in 2014.
A further blow came when it was confirmed star forward Dean Galea had signed with Keilor only two weeks after the Heights’ last homeand-away game.
Galea kicked 160 goals in his two years at Canning Reserve, after crossing from VFL side Port Melbourne.
But Archer said the club was working to lock down the rest of its list and would retain fellow star forward Patrick Rose.
“The first priority at this time of year, for everyone, is locking away as much of their list as possible,” Archer said.
“We’ve worked really hard, so far, for me to be brought up to speed with our current list and where that stands. From there, you can start analysing about what potentially needs to be added.
“We need to add some. We’ll be smart about that. But, at the same time, too, the good thing about having a new coach is everyone starts with a clean slate.
“I’m sure there’s some players from within who may have had limited opportunity over the last few years, and this is their chance to step up and become a senior player.”
Archer, who works for the AFL Players’ Association, has an extensive resume, which includes stints as head coach of the North East Australian Football League representative program and as a Sydney Swans Academy coach.
Ben McCormack has been named as his new assistant coach.