Des Smith to coach KIng Valley next year

Source: Wangaratta Chronicle - 19.09.08

KING Valley Football Club has taken the first step towards resurrecting its prospects in the Ovens and King Football League, installing former Moyhu and Glenrowan leader Des Smith as its head coach.

Smith, who played with the Hoppers between 1997 and 2005, and coached the team to the premiership in ‘02, said he was thrilled to be involved with King Valley, and was eager to help the Roos bounce back after finishing in eighth place this year with four wins.

"It’s great to be getting back into coaching - I love football, and I love that aspect of the game," he said.

"It gives me the opportunity to go back and use my personal experiences to relate to the players coming through, and help the young players get the most out of themselves.

"King Valley is a club that has come from a fairly uncertain position and has really had to fight, so I’m excited to be there - I think it is a club with a bright future ahead of it."

Smith said his first priority was to meet each of the players and get to know them on an individual basis - a move he said was important at such a tight-knit club.

"The players at King Valley are the ones who have held the club together," he said.

"The blokes who coached the side this year, Scott Cashman, Josh Kelly and Mick Dalzotto, showed real passion for the club and worked hard to get the team to stick together.

"Even when they weren’t going well in the first half of the year, they said it was one of the best years they have had as far as team spirit goes."

While King Valley’s future was looking bleak 12 months ago, Smith said it was credit to the playing group, the staff and supporters to have injected vitality back into the club.

"The situation was pretty desperate there for a while, with all the talk about amalgamation," he said.

"But after a rough start the team won four matches in the second half of the year and really gained the respect of their opponents.

"The players really gelled, and to come back from that position is a great success for everyone involved at the club."

With player numbers still a concern, Smith said he would be devoting plenty of time to talking with potential recruits.

"I’m a self employed bricklayer, so I can make time to go around and talk to people and find out who we can possibly attract to the club," he said.

"That’s something I will be focusing on.

"There is a good base of players there, and at this stage I think we will be able to retain the majority of them, but we will be looking at getting a few key players in where we can.

"The club has already been working on getting together a list of names for us to have a look at, so I will definitely be spending a fair bit of time chasing up some of those players."

Smith said a strong fitness base and high skill level among the playing group were the tenets of his coaching philosophy - ideals he said would fit in well at King Valley.

"I got to watch them play a few times this year, and the thing that stands out is that they play with a real determination," he said.

"I played as a midfielder, so I have a strong belief in maintaining a high level of fitness, and I don’t ever use the excuse of not being fit enough.

"I want to make sure we have a fit side, and that our skill level is good so that we can carry the ball and hit targets.

"If we can do those things, and get a couple more experienced, key players in, then we will be winning matches."