Dave Corcoran announced as new Senior Coach for 2017

General Manager Michael Goiser (left) and departing coach Kade Klemke (right) congratulate new First Grade coach Dave Corcoran on his appointment.

At its annual Tony Wynd Medal Black and Gold Presentation Night, held on Friday 14 October, the Queanbeyan Tigers announced that Dave Corcoran will step up from coaching the club’s Reserve Grade side to take over the reigns as new First Grade coach in 2017.

The popular announcement was well received with a standing ovation by the 210-plus people in attendance at the gala presentation night and was a great way to close out the 2016 season and start looking toward 2017.

In making the announcement Tigers General Manager Football Operations Michael Goiser said that since the recent departure of five-year coach Kade Klemke to continue his own coaching pathway as senior coach of the Canberra Demons in the NEAFL, the club has been through a detailed process to identify a coach best positioned to take over the senior coaching role.

“Kade has done a fantastic job in his time at the helm. He’s put in place some great structures, programs and systems that we didn’t want to stray too far from with our young, developing playing group”.

“Despite some interest from highly qualified applicants, we believe Dave Corcoran is in the best position to continue the development of our current squad from where Kade has left off ,” Goiser said.

A meticulous planner, Dave dedicated a great deal of effort and time in making an impressive presentation outlining his vision as new coach, how best to improve individual players and the group as a whole, and firmly staked his claim for the role during the interview process.

Former General Manager and current Chairman Ron Fowlie, who has appointed 14 senior coaches in his time, remarked that he’d not seen a presentation like it when appointing any previous coaches.

When weighing up the candidates the coaching appointment panel concluded that Dave knows our playing group, our culture, our financial position, our relationship with our Licensed Club and sponsors, our support staff and our position in the community extremely well, and thus provides a high level of stability while at the same time having a clear vision of where he wants to take the club in the future.

Goiser said that the committee felt Dave’s experience in various coaching roles in recant years, including the past two as Second Grade coach and First Grade match day assistant, meant that his inside knowledge of the club and where we are at at the moment gave him a huge advantage and he was the right choice at the right time.

“We were reminded of a young coach-in-waiting who, back in 2002, pitched pretty hard for the senior coaching job and the club showed loyalty and rewarded him with the job because of his character, credentials and internal knowledge. That coach was Mark Armstrong, who went on to coach First Grade for nine years and became a legend of the club – so things worked out pretty well with that decision”.

“We are confident with Dave’s ambition, dedication and enormous commitment to building strong relationships with each and every one of our playing group, and with other coaches, that he’ll be a fantastic appointment also”, Goiser concluded.

A member of the Tigers 100 Club, Dave’s passion and eagerness to get stuck into the role is unquestioned.

“I’m really excited about working with the players currently on our list and helping them to become even better players.”

“I’m looking forward to building on the platform Kade has left and taking us to an even higher level.”

“I’m really proud to coach the Club with the richest history in AFL Canberra and contribute to our next chapter.”

“Like all AFL Canberra clubs at this time of year, we’ll also be looking to add some new players to our squad and I look forward to coaching players that will join our Club over summer,” Dave said.

Dave will be supported by Senior Assistant Coach Paul Campbell, who will continue in his role. The pair will be integral in the search for a new Second Grade coach to fill the vacant position created by Dave’s elevation to First Grade.

Chris Clifton will continue as Rising Stars coach and will inherit some talented players progressing into the senior ranks from the premiership-winning Under 17s team.

The club is also searching for a new coach of its Women’s team after three-time premiership-winning coach Robert Anderson reaffirmed his intention to step down despite further attempts to convince him to change his mind during presentation night.