Claws drawn in coaches’ switch
THE only two men who have coached the Tigers for TSL premiership points are back in the system this year at rival clubs.
Aaron Vince — who took the reins at the Tigers last year when Scott Mathieson was sacked just two weeks before the start of the season — has joined North Hobart under its new coach Richard Robinson.
And inaugural Tigers coach Adam Henley, who stepped down at the end of 2016 and was initially replaced by Mathieson, will be an assistant to Paul Kennedy at Glenorchy despite missing out on the top job. Robinson confirmed the appointment of Vince this week, and told the playing group at training last night.
It adds an extra element of spice to the Demons’ openinground fixture against the Tigers, who will be led by Trent Baumeler — who was a Hobart City assistant alongside Robinson last year.
The Demons’ 2017 best and fairest Ryan Matthews and runner-up Will Campbell followed Baumeler down the Huon Highway.
Robinson said it was invaluable to have a deputy who had coached a senior side in his own right, especially with the club to possess plenty of youth.
“I touched base with him, just thought I would ask and see where he was at,” Robinson said of Vince.
“He has coached for 10 years, has coached his own senior side and he is a passionate football person.
“He seems very similar to myself in the way he is organised and he appears to know the game reasonably well.
“I also think it will be good just to have someone in the box who has coached their own team before, that’s the hardest thing.
“It’s such a difference between being an assistant and being the club coach — you answer to everyone.”
Kennedy, who takes over from Aaron Cornelius at the Pies after moving from Victoria, will have one of the most well-credentialed assistants in the State League at his disposal.
Apart from leading the Tigers in their formative seasons, Henley spent a total of eight years at the Kingborough-based club, taking it to an SFL premiership in 2011.
He is also a two-time SFL Regional League premiership coach with the now defunct Kermandie, and was an assistant at Glenorchy when it won the 2008 Premier League flag.