Newly appointed Queanbeyan Tigers coach Dave Corcoran wants to increase the flow of junior AFL Canberra players to his club to ensure they stay at the top.
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The Tigers have won two of the last three premierships with the feed of players from St Edmund's College having a significant contribution to their list, and Corcoran said this focus on developing talent is the key to competing with the richer clubs such as Belconnen Magpies and Ainslie Tricolours.
"I want to make sure we're the destination club in Canberra for local junior players," Corcoran said.
"About 50 per cent of our list come from St Eddie's and I think there's scope for us to reach out to the Marist boys and get them across as well."
Corcoran was an assistant under the new Canberra Demons coach Kade Klemke while he was in charge of the Tigers, and he said this relationship would benefit younger players looking to advance their football careers.
"At a certain point we in AFL Canberra will have to let our kids go and play with Kade at the NEAFL level if they aspire to play in the AFL," Corcoran said.
"What we really hope is that once those guys go to NEAFL level and they've had a crack and if they don't get drafted we would love for them to return to their local junior club."
Corcoran said he was looking forward to building on the platform Klemke left.
“I’m really proud to coach the club with the richest history in AFL Canberra and contribute to our next chapter,” he said.
The announcement, which received a standing ovation, was made at the presentation night on October 14. Tigers general manager football operations Michael Goiser said the recent departure of Klemke left the club looking for a new coach.
“Despite some interest from highly qualified applicants, we believe Dave Corcoran is in the best position to continue the development of our current squad from where Kade has left off,” Goiser said.
Goiser said the committee felt Corcoran’s experience in various coaching roles meant that his inside knowledge of the club and where it was at gave him a huge advantage. Goiser said he was the right choice at the right time.
“We are confident with Dave’s ambition, dedication and enormous commitment to building strong relationships with each and every one of our playing group, and with other coaches, that he’ll be a fantastic appointment also”, Goiser said.
Corcoran will be supported by assistant coach Paul Campbell.
