Jack ready to step up to job as Saints coach
AFTER a few years considering the possibility, experienced Cairns Saints midfielder Jack Philp will dive straight into the next phase of his career and take over as coach at Griffiths Park in 2019.
The Tasmanian, who finished second in the Crathern Medal this season, will replace a good mate of his in Tim Lamprill in charge of Saints next season with Lamprill relocating back to the Apple Isle.
The 30-year-old was first approached to take over as playing-coach following the current season, where Saints fell to Port Douglas in the Port Douglas: Brad Cooper Centrals Trinity Beach Bulldogs: Signed but not yet named South Cairns Cutters: John Tootell Manunda Hawks: Marc Harbrow grand final, and after deliberating, decided to take on the role this week.
“It is something that I have wanted to do for a while, thinking about it the last couple of years,” Philp said.
“I thought long and hard about it after being offered the Cairns Saints: Jack Philp (playing-coach) North Cairns Tigers: Glen Coghlan Cairns City Lions: Aaron Davey (playing-coach) job and thought I would be wasting my time if I did not take it on this year. I did not want to feel like I was getting stagnant with my playing up here; the coaching element would add to what I am doing.
“The older you get the more you think about how you would do it yourself if you were coaching and I have taken bits and pieces from each coach that I have been under.”
Philp, regarded as one of the most reliable on-ballers in AFL Cairns, co-captained the north Queensland representative side in 2018.
Outgoing Saints president Stephen McIntosh is pleased with the appointment of Philp.
“He will be great for the club and while I won’t be here to see it, he’ll do an excellent job and put Saints in a positive position,” McIntosh said.
Saints are set to lose Cameron Johns, Tom Eltringham, Crathern Medal winner Joel Newman and Lamprill from the side that played in the 2018 decider. Busy midfielder Keenan George, who played with Saints in 2017, is set to return next year and will fill the void of Newman in the middle.
AFL Cairns club Centrals Trinity Beach have secured a Victorian-based coach in principle for the 2019 season.
The candidate is set to travel to the Far North this weekend to meet the Bulldogs hierarchy before signing to coach at Crathern Park for next year.
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