Former Magpies coach excited by Hawks challenge
THE opportunity to build a club into a regional powerhouse is behind former Collingwood coach Wayne Siekman’s decision to move to the Manunda Hawks.
The Hawks announced on Tuesday the former Magpies AFLW coach would move to Cairns as the club’s senior coach and football operations manager. Siekman coached Collingwood for three years before moving to Carlton as the list manager for the AFLW and VFLW teams.
He has been the football operations manager at West Adelaide in the SANFL for the last three seasons.
The former Magpies coach is excited to get back into coaching and helping the operations side of the football club.
“Operations is critical across the whole football club not just in the senior men’s,” Siekman said.
“A strong football program with fundamentals on and off the field is what we want for the club. I just love coaching, teaching and developing the senior players and juniors.”
Siekman has 20 years of experience in both coaching and football operations and will be looking to build the Hawks into a strong position financially as well as on the field.
The Hawks finished last in 2022, and haven’t played finals footy for several seasons – a drought Siekman wants to end.
“The chance to look at the full operations of the whole club was a big reason for the move to help the club grow,” Siekman said.
“I want to focus on getting a really good foundation for the club and get the club back to playing finals footy.”
AFL Cairns GM Craig Lees said Siekman’s background will help the development of football across the region.
“Wayne stood out for me with his extensive background in development and coaching,” Lees said. “He is a massive asset for the Hawks and AFL Cairns and will add to the growing football community here in Cairns.”
Siekman will visit Cairns in December before settling ahead of pre-season in January.