Haines, a former premiership-winning player for Collingullie in the Riverina league, will fill the role in a non-playing capacity, replacing Daniel Kirchen after he joined Tallygaroopna.
The 32-year-old was thrilled to be selected as coach, saying it came as ‘‘a bit of a surprise’’ to him.
“I’ve spent a decade out at Blighty and I just love the club,” he said.
“It’s quite exciting for me. I never thought I’d be a coach, but then again I never thought I’d be a dairy farmer either.
“The first aim is to try and get plenty of blokes out here for training for a few sessions before Christmas.
“I’m hoping to build a side of local blokes that love the club, so that is going to be my main focus.”
With a recent exodus of senior players, Haines will be looking to the club’s up-and-coming talent for the year.
‘‘We should hopefully still have blokes like Sam Singleton, Jake Platfuss and Kyel Bain, but we will definitely be looking at the next generation,’’ Haines said.
‘‘Speaking with the committee we are in agreeance that we need to be looking at the long term and to take the club forward we need to invest in our young local talent.
‘‘It will be good to get a couple of senior games into those younger blokes that are in their last year of thirds footy, and help them prepare for it.
‘‘Obviously I will be aiming to win every game we play and would love to at least make finals, but next year will be about building the side up.’’
● Jerilderie will have a familiar face at the helm next season with club champion Chris Marshall to again lead the Demons.
In charge since 2018, the former grand final best-on-ground led the side to a 4-12 record in 2019, one of its better seasons in recent memory.
Marshall will be joined by another multiple premiership-winner David Gregory as his assistant coach.
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