Evandale has turned to two new co-coaches as it looks to snap a run of unsuccessful finals series and break a 26-year senior flag drought.
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Alex Payne and Jack Maher will take over the reins from exiting coach James Storay next season after both playing key roles in the club's 2019 campaign.
A 2012 Eagles grand final player, Maher netted two senior flags and three reserves flags (two as a player, one as coach) at South Launceston before returning to Evandale this season.
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The 26-year-old said he was desperate to bring success to Morven Park after a run of two grand finals, two preliminary finals and three semis in the past eight seasons.
"I was always going to come back, I just wasn't sure when," the former Kings Meadows High student said.
"I got the coaching bug at South and this opportunity opened up and it was probably the right time.
"I just really want to make sure it's a successful time and that we both leave the club in the future in good shape."
Maher, who played 14 games this year, said the co-coaching arrangement would allow him to continue serving the club as a player.
"There's probably not a better bloke to have [than Alex] with his football knowledge, and to be a playing coach you've got to have a pretty good co-coach on the bench," he said.
"I'm really positive Alex will be the right man - our relationship on and off the field is really good."
Payne will also be undertaking his first senior coaching role after having his own playing career cut short by injury.
A Launceston debutant at the age of 16, the former Riverside High student suffered four knee reconstructions between stints in the TSL and Geelong Football League before eventually stepping away from the game.
Payne dipped his toes back in the water this season by taking on the role of Eagles bench coach and was instantly hooked.
ELSEWHERE IN SPORT
"Initially when I decided to pull the pin on having another comeback I had a full year away to see whether I really did want to get back involved and the year this year was exactly what I needed," he said.
"It was the carrot that dangled in front of me and gave me the coaching bug and I love footy and being around a community like this, so it's pretty exciting going forward."
The pair's first challenge will be to retain and improve a list which has taken the club to five consecutive finals series - a feat only matched by this year's losing grand finalists St Pats.
"We sort of started to map it out towards the back end of the year," 24-year-old Payne said.
"We both bring different knowledge and aspects to what we want to implement out there, but it all falls under the same banner of what we're trying to achieve.
"That's probably a real positive that we're very much on the same page with our direction and what we need to improve on.
"We're really excited, we've got a good list together already so we're just looking to retain that list and add on a needs basis."
EAGLE HISTORY
- 2019: Fourth. Coach: James Storay
- 2018: Runner-up. Coach: James Storay
- 2017: Third. Coach: Anthony Axton
- 2016: Fourth. Coaches: Anthony Axton, Michael Rainbow
- 2015: Third. Coach: James Conroy
- 2014: Sixth. Coach: James Conroy
- 2013: Fourth. Coach: Neville Rattray
- 2012: Runner-up. Coach: Neville Rattray
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