Shepparton News

Morgan is new man of GV interleagu­e

- By Eamonn Tiernan

Benalla premiershi­p coach Luke Morgan has taken another step in his budding career.

The midfielder will take charge of Goulburn Valley’s interleagu­e side next season as the first playing coach since Kevin Kenna in 1953.

‘‘It’s a great opportunit­y to be able to lead the league into what will be a very important phase in where we’re going,’’ Morgan said.

‘‘It’s something I’ve looked at for a couple of years, so when the opportunit­y presented itself I grabbed it with both hands.’’

‘‘I’m very passionate about interleagu­e and bettering yourself and those two things work hand in hand, I’m very excited for the role and can’t wait to get started.’’

Morgan is enjoying his fourth GVFL season and believes he can bring the league back up the AFL Victoria Community Championsh­ips rankings.

‘‘I want the best players wanting to play interleagu­e footy and that will be a big focus — getting the best players up and about and playing,’’ he said.

‘‘I do have a pretty good knowledge of the league at the minute, so that will go hand in hand with bringing the best out of our league next year.’’

The school teacher admitted he did not see himself in the classroom for the rest of his career and was pleased with how things were tracking.

‘‘It’s just a see how we go right now, but at the minute I’m very happy,’’ Morgan said.

‘‘This added role will give some satisfacti­on and an extra challenge, not that my current one isn’t enough, but just getting the ability to work with the elite excites me.

‘‘It will be a great experience and something that I’m looking forward to doing for a few years.’’

An intense student of the game, Morgan acknowledg­ed football was never far from his mind.

‘‘I pretty much think about footy all the time, my wife isn’t very happy with all the phone calls and that I don’t switch off, but that’s just my make up,’’ he said.

‘‘It’s how country coaching goes these days, you need to be thinking all the time, my assistant coaches work very hard but at the end of the day it all falls to the coach.’’

 ??  ?? Right man for the job: Benalla coach Luke Morgan has been appointed to guide the fortunes of the Goulburn Valley Football League next year.
Right man for the job: Benalla coach Luke Morgan has been appointed to guide the fortunes of the Goulburn Valley Football League next year.

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