THE Port Adelaide Football Club is pleased to confirm that Dean Laidley will continue on as an assistant coach next season completing the Power’s coaching panel for season 2011.
Laidley, a former premiership player and senior coach at North Melbourne, will take over as midfield and stoppage coach, a position he held in the last seven rounds of this season when Matthew Primus took over as senior coach.
Primus says he’s thrilled to retain the services of Laidley given the impact he had on the entire playing group and coaching staff during his first season at the Club.
“Dean was of course always one of our top targets for this role, and we are delighted that he is now able to continue at the Club.
“Dean built a great relationship with both the players and coaching staff while he was here and we’re very pleased that he’s continuing on,” Primus said.
“He brings great experience to our coaching group and he’ll once again be fantastic for not only myself, but for our entire coaching staff.”
After looking after the forward line for the previous four seasons, Jason Cripps will now take over as the Club’s defensive coach.
Primus says that Cripps is excited to be looking after the Power’s young group of defenders.
“Jason is looking forward to working with our young group of defenders and will also oversee our defensive structures all over the ground as well,” Primus said.
“He’s very comfortable taking on the role given that he looked after the St Kilda backline when he was an assistant under Grant Thomas.”
The role of forward coach and ball movement will now be taken over by Garry Hocking after he was elevated from development coach last week.
Primus says that Hocking did an outstanding job as development coach at Alberton last season and is now looking forward to working with the Power’s young group of forwards.
“Garry has got a great footy brain and terrific ability to share his knowledge with others,” Primus said.
“He fast tracked the development of some of our younger players and set up a great development academy here at the Club over the last season.
“Now he can’t wait to work with our young group of forwards and help them all continue to develop their games.”
Daniel Healy and Matthew Nicks will now oversee the development of younger players at Alberton in their respective roles as development manager and development coach.
