THE Northern Saints have found their new coach for Season 2018.
Paul Dunn will take over the role from Daniel Foley, who stepped aside following the Saints’ Preliminary Final loss to pursue an opportunity in the talent pathway system.
Dunn (pictured right alongside new assistant coach Kieran Walker) has recently spent time in the VFL system with both Coburg and Essendon and is now ready to embrace his first senior coaching gig with the Strathmore Community Bank Division 2 club.
“I’ve pretty much always had the desire to eventually want to coach my own side,” Dunn told essendondfl.com.au.
“I decided towards the end of the season just gone that it’d be a good time and a good opportunity to take the next step and challenge myself and take on a head role.”
Dunn will enter Charles Mutton Reserve with fresh perspective, but is keen to retain the Saints’ trademark offensive flare on the field.
“I definitely like to utilise the players’ strengths to their full capacity so we’ll be embracing that (offensive style),” Dunn said.
“We’re going to play a pretty exciting brand of football.”
The club has worked to improve its culture in recent years and slowly but surely, its junior ranks are growing.
Dunn wants to see that growth filter through to his senior side.
“Over the last three years the people involved there have had to really change the culture and make a lot of tough decisions, and a lot of those decisions have been the right ones to get the club where it currently is,” he said.
“There’s been a really good focus on youth.
“The Under 17s had a little bit of success and with a lot of them coming up into Under 19s and Senior contention, it just seems like a great opportunity and I believe they can bring value.
“After working with so many young footballers over the years in a development capacity, I want to apply some of that trade to a local level and see where we can develop and take the group.”
Dunn will be sitting down with the club to assess its senior list in coming weeks.
The club will be holding a barbeque on Friday evening from 6:30pm at Charles Mutton Reserve.
