There will be a new man pulling the strings at perennial Kyabram District League contender Avenel in 2023, with the club confirming Matthew Huy as its new senior coach.
Huy comes to the Swans after a three-year stint as an assistant at Riddell and District League club Wallan, with this being his first foray into senior coaching.
This appointment comes after much-loved senior coach Kasey Duncan departed the club at the end of the 2022 season to chase a coaching opportunity in Melbourne.
The beginning of an exciting new chapter, Huy explained how the move came about and why he thought Avenel was the perfect place to launch the next phase of his coaching career.
“I know a couple of the guys up there and my name was put forward to the committee, we had a few chats and I was happy with what they had in place and vice versa and we pulled the trigger,” Huy said.
“For me it was the fact that Avenel is a small town and the footy club is very close-knit and connected to the community — everybody I know from the town raves about the club.
“They have also been very strong on-field recently, playing finals every year since 2014, and the list is in a good place.”
While the Swans have done a lot of winning in the past decade, when it comes to finals their record isn’t such pretty reading.
Sporting a premiership drought that now spans more than 30 years, they came close to that much-anticipated ultimate triumph in 2022, finishing atop the ladder before being eliminated from the finals in straight sets.
Huy said he hoped his wealth of experience would help the club clear that final hurdle.
“The journey ahead is going to be fantastic,” he said.
“It is very exciting to know the club has been up there and contending for the best part of a decade and a large portion of the group from last year have already committed for 2023 which is wonderful.
“Hopefully I can continue on from the great work Kasey (Duncan) had done with the club in the last few seasons, maintain that success and ultimately get the club to where it deserves to be.”
As for what the playing group can expect from Huy’s style of coaching, he said it would be all about bringing a fresh perspective to the group.
“I’m just hoping I can bring some new ideas, a new energy and hopefully take what Kasey has left, complement it a bit more and try some different things,” he said.
“Being my first year I have no real major expectations, we would love to be playing finals again, that’s the first goal and anything past that is a bonus.”
Avenel is currently on the look-out for under-14 and 18 coaches, all interested parties should contact the club.