Seamus shocked but excited

New Sturt coach Seamus Maloney at Unley Oval. Picture: Simon Cross

By Reece Homfray, The Advertiser, October 14

STURT'S 2002 premiership captain Seamus Maloney says he was 'shocked' when told by the club on Monday it wanted him to take over as coach immediately.

Maloney said he had nothing to do with Luke Norman's dismissal and a phone call from the club sent him into a spin. "I imagine he'd (Norman) be gutted," Maloney said yesterday.

"He is a good guy and I will endeavour to catch up with him at some stage.

"But I can categorically say I had no influence in the decision. I was gearing up to support Luke next year and the club called and said they wanted to catch up. So I met with them on Monday and they told me the board had made a decision to move on from Luke and wanted me to do the job."

Maloney had been an assistant coach at Unley since returning to Adelaide from Mildura this season. He said he had to speak to his family and employer before accepting the club's offer to coach but he was excited by the challenge.

"I enjoy coaching and even as an assistant you have your own ideas about how you'd do things. I never planned to be senior coach of the place but I'm confident I can do the job and confident the club can support me."

Maloney retired from SANFL football in 2003 after 152 games, a premiership and best-and-fairest award.

"I don't like to see the club at the bottom of the ladder," he said.

"I'm excited about the challenge (of changing that)."

SEAMUS MALONEY
* 152 SANFL games with Sturt from 1996-2003.
* 2001 Sturt best-and-fairest.
* 2002 Sturt grand final-winning captain.
* Player and coach for two premierships with Imperials in the Sunraysia Football League from 2004-2010.
* Sturt assistant coach in 2011.

www.sturtfc.com.au/videos/1/2011/5/the-assistant-coach-big-mass