Ardmona appoints Shane Crawford as coach

By Tyler Maher

Oct 3, 2019

Hawthorn Football Club premiership superstar and Brownlow medallist Shane Crawford has put his hand up to help struggling Kyabram District League club Ardmona.

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The Bush Cats are appealing the league's recent decision to suspend the team from competing next season to administration centre AFL Goulburn Murray.

If that appeal is successful, Crawford has committed to coaching the outfit which has not won a senior game since July 2015.

“I've put my hand up to coach and help in any way I can,” Crawford said.

“I completely understand why the league has put a halt on the club, with their financial struggles the league is just trying to do the right thing so the club doesn't fall further behind and more stress doesn't fall on everyone.

“It's never an easy decision and not a decision the league is taking lightly, they care about the club as well.

“So if I can get involved and help, we'll see what happens.

“I won't be able to make miracles happen. To say we're going to go and win lots of games (would be wrong), but we're just trying to get good people to get involved, not necessarily the best footballers, but it's about the locals who want to stick around and make the club better.”

It has not been a snap decision for the Finley product to offer his services to Ardmona either, with the club's plight catching his eye some time ago.

“I've been watching them for a few years and the first time I watched them play I actually felt very sorry for them. They turned up and tried, but got flogged, and they came off with their heads down,” he said.

“That was the initial connection and then I've been looking to see how they were going for probably the past two years.

“I made up my mind probably two months ago to say okay, if they don't win a game it's time to go and help in some way.

“Then I saw an (in-depth) story with them and that helped put a bit of a face on their situation, so I rang them up.”

A period in Crawford's own football career was also a factor in his decision to help out the Bush Cats, despite having an already busy calendar of commitments.

“Yeah I've got lots of stuff going on, but it's something I've been passionate about for two years now and it's action time,” he said.

“I was a part of Hawthorn in 1996 when we nearly merged with Melbourne, so I know a bit about how they're feeling.

“I'm sure that I could put my hand up to coach somewhere that would win lots of games, but I just want to help Ardmona be competitive, be healthier financially, be a club people love playing against and one people want to be around.

“I just want it to be a fun place, let's kick some goals, let's be more competitive. I don't have a miracle potion and the club's got no money, but if we can play in the right way and learn a bit (that's the aim).”

Even if Ardmona's appeal to play in 2020 fails, Crawford is still keen to help out.

“If it doesn't work out I'd definitely try and help out to get the structure right,” he said.

“(I'd try to) help them get ready to hopefully get things in place to hit the ground running the following year and get reinstated and get things going.

The Bush Cats were understandably over the moon when announcing Crawford's involvement.

“The committee of Ardmona Football Netball Club are pleased to announce that AFL legend and Brownlow medallist Shane Crawford has been appointed to the role (of) senior coach, pending our appeal decision,” the club said in a statement.

“Shane brings a wealth of experience and success on and off the field. His strong leadership skills and focus on building the right foundations for the club will return Ardmona FNC to glory days once again.

“We are very excited to welcome Shane to our Bush Cats family.”

The Bush Cats had their membership suspended last month because of large amounts of unpaid debt, with the league executive and fellow clubs voting almost unanimously against the side playing in the competition next season.

With Ardmona ineligible to vote due to its financial status, only one vote was made against the decision to suspend its membership.

KDL president Fraser Kerrins could not comment on the status of Ardmona's appeal, but agreed it would be a huge coup for the Bush Cats to have Crawford as coach if it eventuated.

“It would be exciting, very exciting for them as a club,” Kerrins said.

“It's great that they've gone out and got such a high calibre coach on board, it keeps them in the minds of everyone outside of their club and keeps their forward momentum going.

“But it doesn't change the fact that Ardmona has been suspended from the 2020 season.”