SPORT Baker moves into AFL coaching role head coach Torin Baker has taken well to those transferable skills in coaching. I in The up a development coaching role with AFL club really value my teaching background and I’ve Hawthorn. certainly used it a lot within my footy.” doghouse Baker, who has coached the Jets for the past Baker had established a reputation in six seasons, including three finals appearances, the TAC Cup ranks as a coach with strong ■ Racing fans can turn their attention will replace former Hawks’ ruckman Max interpersonal skills, and he said the chance to to the Werribee Cup coming up next Bailey on ’s coaching panel. continue his own development while working month now the Spring Racing Carnival Bailey is taking over as coach of VFL affiliate on the national stage was an opportunity that has ended. Werribee played a major Box Hill. excited him. role in the carnival and the facilities Baker has a long association with football, “I invest heavily into relationships with my received rave reviews from the visiting including a 17-year playing career in the VFL, coaching,” he said. trainers completing their preparations country and local leagues. His appointment at “I think coaching is a real communication for the big race. There was no Hawthorn will be a reunion of sorts – Clarkson game and that’s what I will aim to bring and suggestion that the International Horse was the head coach at Werribee in 2000 when something that my background suggests I will Centre had anything to do with the Baker was a player. be able to do. deaths of a couple of horses during the On the Hawks’ website, Baker said he “Everyone in the AFL industry just talks spring. The Werribee Cup is set down believed his coaching and teaching background so positively about Hawthorn so that is really for Sunday, December 9, and while it would lend itself to the role of fast-tracking the exciting for me and I feel really welcomed by does not command the attention it did development of Hawthorn’s younger players. the group already.” in the past, it is still a big day on the “This is probably the next step for me now in Baker won 41 games as coach of the Jets, local sporting calendar. my coaching so I’m really excited to be able to after starting in the role in 2013. Torin Baker has finished at the Western Jets get this position at Hawthorn,” Baker said. and will take up a development coaching role at ■ Port premiership player “I think a background in teaching lends itself Ewen McRae Hawthorn. (Mark Wilson) Dylan Conway will be shaping up this Saturday night as he makes his professional boxing debut at Melbourne Pavilion. David Hegarty at Tarneit Boxing has prepared Conway for the Former Richmond star Nick Daffy fight. The fight will be streamed on has joined the Werribee coaching liveboxing.com.au. Plenty of local panel. (Supplied) footballers have used the ring to supplement their training, with the occasional foray into the real stuff. Jake Carr, the former Jets captain, is probably the best known in recent years. Good luck to Dylan, combining two sporting pursuits can be tricky.

■ It takes a good cause to get the Werribee and Hoppers Crossing cricket clubs to smoke the peace pipe and for the fifth year running Movember has achieved that feat. The two clubs will go bristle to bristle on Sunday Movember 25 at . The future stars game will start at 10.45am followed by the big game at 1.30pm. There will be raffles and auctions and plenty of food and beverages available. All monies raised go to the Movember Foundation. Details: Sean Molloy (WCC) 0419 387 402 or Jake Porter (HCCC) 0430 142 780.

■ Lorraine Woodman has been co-ordinating the all abilities indoor cricket program at 90 Gordon Street in Footscray for 26 years and she needs help. She is looking for a volunteer to assist on a Tuesday, 4-6pm. It is not physically demanding. Call Lorraine if you can help 0438 981 882. Werribee’s star power ■ What a coup for Port Melbourne Colts, signing Lindsay Gilbee as senior coach for 2019. The former Bulldogs By Ewen McRae North Ballarat, also working closely with star “He’s come in wanting to learn from Mark star was one of the best kicks in the Werribee midfielder Matt Hanson as midfield and we think he’s going to be terrific for our competition and has a sharp football Werribee Football Club is continuing its busy coach of the VFL state team that same year. forward-line group.” mind. Interesting to see the Tanner off season, securing former Richmond star Outside the VFL, he has served as director Werribee has also been active on the player brothers leaving Altona, bound for Nick Daffy for its coaching panel for the 2019 of coaching for Bellarine Football League side front, re-securing standout first-year players Taylors Lakes in the EDFL. season. Torquay (2013-14) and senior coach of Geelong Joel Bennett and Keegan Gray. The former Tigers midfielder and forward Football League club St Albans (2015-16). Part of a long line of graduates from the Kevin Hillier spent 2018 working as the forward coach with As a player, Daffy registered 166 games with ’ TAC Cup program to find Essendon’s VFL side and will take on the same Richmond and one game with Sydney. He their way to Avalon Airport Oval, Bennett Any news, let me know on email role with Werribee next year. kicked 182 goals from 1992 to 2002, during debuted for Werribee against Collingwood in [email protected]. Daffy said the opportunity to work alongside which he also represented South Australia in round five and went on to play 10 games in his Follow me on Twitter @KevinHillier, AFL premiership coach Mark Williams at a state of origin on three occasions. maiden VFL season. His 16 goals placed him plus check out the Howdy Partners stand-alone VFL club was exciting. He began his career as a dangerous third in the 2018 club goalkicking and included Media website as well. “I felt it was going to be a good fit for me,” half-forward and was the Tigers’ leading six goals against Frankston in round 12. Daffy said. “I’m from Geelong, so it’s obviously goalkicker in 1995, later developing into a Gray joined Werribee by way of the Greater close to home. prolific midfielder and going on to win the Western Victoria Rebels’ TAC Cup program “The opportunity to work with ‘Choco’ club’s best and fairest in 1998. and Hampden Football League side Portland, [Williams] on a full-time basis with a Werribee football operations manager Stuart playing seven games and kicking two goals in stand-alone side was something I thought I Balloch said Daffy was an exciting addition to his first season. really needed.” the club’s coaching ranks. The youngest member of the 2018 playing WESTPOINT The move continues an impressive coaching “Nick’s football journey through the Geelong group, the 19-year-old produced a break-out ProudCorner Sponsors Heaths of and In The Morris Doghouse, Road career for Daffy. Football League with St Albans and then North performance in his second game, collecting 23 HoppersThe Hillier Crossing View and Ph: Foodbytes 9749 6444 CornerWeb: Heaths www.westpointford.com.au and Morris Road Hoppers Crossing

Prior to joining Essendon, he spent 2014 as Ballarat and in a VFL/AFL alignment with disposals in a losing effort to cement his spot 402308-MD20-9 Ph: 9749 6444 402309-MD20- an assistant coach with the Northern Blues Essendon means he has a really good cross on the wing and establish himself as a pivotal ProudWeb: Sponsors www.westpointford.com.au of In The Doghouse & The Hillier View and 2017 as midfield and stoppage coach with section of coaching experience,” Balloch said. link-up figure in the middle of the ground. 57 WYNDHAM STAR WEEKLY \ NOVEMBER 14, 2018