New coach. New competition. New jumper. The Wollongong Lions AFL club are sweating through a tough pre-season in readiness for a return to AFL South Coast in 2015.
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The Lions announced late last year they were leaving the Sydney AFL competition and rejoining the South Coast comp - 25 years after playing their last game in the local footy comp.
New club president and Lions stalwart Mick Marning confirmed former Victorian suburban player and coach Craig Morrison is the Lions new senior coach for 2015.
Morrison, an experienced player in the Geelong suburban comp is on the comeback from a ACL injury and may play late in the 2015 season, but his priority is as Lions senior coach.
Morrison played some of his early footy at Geelong Falcons before winning two premierships and two Best and Fairests at Newcomb Power Football Club in the Bellarine Football League in Geelong.
Morrison was also a premiership winner at top Melbourne-based club Deer Park in 2012, with the side also including Carlton legend Anthony Koutoufides.
Morrison and Koutoufides remain friends, with the Blues’ 1995 premiership player and All Australian star to support the Lions and AFL South Coast with an appearance at North Dalton Park next Wednesday (from 5pm-6pm.
Everyone is invited, with the Lions hoping to make Koutoufides a club patron.
Meanwhile, new Lions senior coach Morrison’s background in personal training has meant a different approach to pre-season training which has included boxing and yoga.
‘‘There’s a great vibe around the club and Craig’s appointment has been terrific for the club,’’ Marning said.
‘‘He’s brought some fresh ideas to training and the fitness routines and its been embraced by the playing group.
‘‘We’ve had high 20s at training the first few weeks back and everything is on track heading into round one in April.’
The Lions will also have a new playing strip in 2015 with the predominantly black jumper with a distinctive Red V and white outline.
The Lions will have a first grade and reserve grade side in South Coast AFL seniors, plus are hoping to have an 18s side, possibly in conjunction with the Northern Districts club.
The Lions will have a full list of junior teams playing in under 16s, 14s, 12s, 10s 9s and Auskick.
Round one for the AFL seniors comp is the Saturday after Easter on April 11.
