Congratulations to Chris Daw, coach of Eltham’s reserves, for being awarded N.F.L. Coach of the Month for May.
During the month of May, Eltham’s reserves went undefeated and finished the month sitting on top of the Division 1 reserves ladder.
After 13 rounds , Eltham’s reserves sit second on the ladder with a 12-1 record. Their sole loss of the
season came against Northcote Park in Round 10 by just five points.
Chris fits all the criteria to win Coach of the Month. He is an accredited Level 1 Coach and has worked diligently this year in developing his playing group and maintaining their status as a leading team in the Division 1 reserves competition.
His role has also provided a pathway for a number of players to be nurtured and then transitioned into the senior team.
“So far we have played 53 players all up through the team. We have had eight under-19s go through our side at all different times as a pathway and experience against bigger bodies, smarter footballers and even for structural experience as they head to senior footy,” Daw said.
“Our role as a twos side is always to make the seniors better as a side, thus strengthening the club all round. We have pushed them all year with approx 14 guys playing senior footy since starting with us at the beginning of the year. These include under-19s Sam Zito, Kyle O’Sullivan, Bailey Taglieri and other youngsters Harry Burns and Chris Mccabe and many more.
“Our club has a real development approach and senior guys regularly train with the under-15s and Under-17s and vice-versa to open up the pathway to senior footy and also to generate the bond between the junior and senior club.”
Chris will receive a $50 gift voucher from Urban Grooves Cafe (99 Grimshaw St, Greensborough), a coaches board and a coaches book for winning the Coach of the Month award.
He is also now in the running to win the 2015 AFCA Senior Coach of the Year, which will be announced at Mantra Bell City, Preston on Wednesday, September 2.
Well done Chris.
As published in issue 15 of the Northerner
