MILDURA has landed a major coup with former AFL player Sam Kerridge set to return to his junior club as playing coach for next SFNL season.
The 29 year-old former Blues and Crows player, who will move back to Mildura from Melbourne in the coming months with partner Nicole to be closer to family, said his early signing would allow him to get on the front foot with recruiting and connecting with the Demons’ emerging playing list.
“We haven’t had the opportunity to nut out a few key areas that we need to look into, but in the next few weeks I will sit down with the people at the footy club and identify those areas that we can improve on,” Kerridge said.
“From what I have heard, the young list that is coming through is outstanding, so it is exciting times for the club, and that is the big pitch when you look at a role like this. The quality of the list coming through is going to make my job a lot easier.”
The Demons finished this season in second last position, but their list was among the youngest in the competition, and pushed most teams in their losses, while also clocking up four wins.
Kerridge played much of his junior football at Mildura, along with a season in the seniors as a 16-year-old in 2009.
He then played two seasons with the Bendigo Pioneers before being drafted to the Adelaide Crows. The hard-running midfielder played 27 senior games for the Crows from 2012-2015 before he was traded to Carlton, where he played a further 42 senior games across three seasons.
In recent seasons, Kerridge has played and coached at White Hills in the Heathcote & District League in Bendigo and this season has played with Alexandra Football Club in the Outer East Football/Netball League.
“The body still feels okay, maybe not as fit as I used to be, but I am still able to find a bit of the footy so I’m still looking to make a strong contribution on the field, that’s for sure,” he said.
“The main reason for moving back home is that chance to spend more time with the family and to get back to where it all started.
“After COVID and lockdowns, my partner and I have been ready for a country change, we are a country people at heart, so this decision has been a couple of years in the making.
“It just feels like the right timing and the opportunity (to coach) came up, so I’m really excited.
“It’s been a long time since I was home and pulled on the Mildura guernsey. I’m not too sure who is still rolling around, but whether it is catching up for a beer or having a kick on the footy field, it will be great.”
Mildura’s head of recruiting Ryan O’Callaghan said conversations with Kerridge had intensified in the past few months, and the club was “stoked” to sign him up.
“You are always happy to get someone of Sam’s profile, but it is also that he has a strong connection to the Mildura footy club, so for us, to get a signing like this is pretty big,” O’Callaghan said.
“The big focus for us first and foremost was to get our coach in place. We have ticked that box and now we will work on looking for an assistant then potential recruits.
“We are really happy with the young list we have and there are players we will look to get back, so we believe we can turn things around pretty quickly.”
