Longwood and Picola United re-sign senior football coaches for 2022

By Aydin Payne

Aug 10, 2021

The excitement for next year is already building at Longwood.

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Promising junior talent, along with the announcement that Mick Galvin has re-signed as coach, has the Kyabram District League club feeling bright about the future.

Longwood revealed last week that Galvin would extend his tenure into a fourth year, after he joined the club before the 2019 season.

Although his side is yet to win a game in 2021, the outlook for next season could not be any brighter for Galvin and the club.

Longwood, which has been starved of football success, has its under-18s in finals contention with three rounds left.

The juniors sit sixth on the ladder and are within grasp of becoming the club's first football side to play finals since joining Kyabram District League in 2010.

The performances of the club's young guns — the likes of Dakota Pellegrino and Harry Skinner — has Galvin excited for what lies ahead.

“Absolutely, I'm really looking forward to next season already,” Galvin said.

“We are really trying to push the club forward and, you know, I've always said I'm not here to win flags, but it's about building the club to be in a good position on and off the field.

“The biggest thing is to just continue to build on what we have put in place and hang on to our juniors.

“The under-18s are looking to play finals this year which is a massive thing for the club. Fingers crossed we can get some finals action for those boys.”

Galvin will be joined by assistant coach Mitch Dickason next year.

“Mitch brings a lot of fresh thinking to the role and he's got a smart footy brain,” Galvin said.

“He's also built a great connection with the younger boys and that's really important.

“Hopefully we are able to add a few more boys around that 27-28 age bracket that can add a bit more experience for those younger players and help them develop.”

Meanwhile, Darby Walsh has been reappointed coach at Picola United.

The announcement was made at the weekend, taking Walsh's tenure into a third consecutive season.

It has been a tough year for United, with the Picola District Football League outfit set to miss out on finals action.

The playing coach, who has only managed to play two games this season, said he couldn't wait to get stuck into the 2022 season.

“I’m really looking forward to the role next year as we look to take the positives and grow on this season,” Walsh said.

“There’s a really good group of guys here at the moment which we’re looking to add to next season.”

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