Cometh the hour .. cometh the man to Kiama Power
Cometh the hour .. cometh the man to Kiama Power
February 28, 2008
Section: Sport
JOEL RITCHIE
COMETH the hour … cometh the man.
Kiama Power AFL club is hoping to capitalise on its best season yet with the appointment of James Walton as first grade coach for 2008.
The Power came within a few straight kicks of stealing the 2007 South Coast AFL premiership from unbeaten Bomaderry.
This year Walton, who replaces Glen Farquhar-Nicholl, wants his charges to go one better – and believes he has the knowledge and skill to guide them over the line.
Walton is a part-time scout for defending AFL premiers Geelong and played under-age and reserves football with the Cats and Sydney Swans.
He also ran the Illawarra’s talented player program and guided some of the Power’s current first grade crop through their junior days at the club.
Walton will also play one final season for the Power at full forward, along with son Josh.
“This year the ultimate goal is to win it – there are not many other options for me,” he said.
“Our first goal is making the finals, once that is done it is to make the grand final and so on.
“Last year we had the nucleus of a solid side and making the grand final was a fantastic result.
“The idea is to build on the platform that was set in 2007.
“It wouldn’t have mattered where we finished, I still would have put my hand up to coach.”
Walton wants to introduce more structure, discipline and skills to the Power’s play in 2008.
He believes the Power will have to improve by 25-30 percent to topple Bomaderry in 2008.
“We will need that sort of improvement to beat the likes of Bomaderry – they are the side to beat,” he said.
Walton said the Power is on track to improve its overall depth in 2008.
A number of new and returning players have been attending training three times a week.
Walton has been itching to coach the Power seniors for a while, but work and other AFL commitments prevented that in previous seasons.
This year however, “the time was right” for Walton to take the reigns at Bonaira Reserve.
The Power will start their campaign with a knockout hosted by Albatross.