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Meet the 2023 Junior Interleague Coaches

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The Interleague coaches have been finalised for 2023. Get to know the coaches below and hear from all of them before the start of the Interleague Trials.

 

Dean Jones – Under 15 Boys Div 1 – Head Coach 

Dean Jones returns to the 2023 program after a successful first year in 2022. Dean coached the Under 14s side in 2022 and will now look to further develop the same group as the head coach of the Under 15 Division 1 team. 

Dean has an extensive coaching CV which includes the following: 

Senior/Development VFL level with Frankston & Sandringham/St.Kilda, including current AFL listed athletes/current AFL coaches, creation of multiple Junior Club Academies/Head coach (SEJ & EFNL), NAB League (then TAC Cup) Multicultural coach, current Gaelic Victorian Metro U17 Boys Head Coach & current private Aussie Rules coach to over 500 athletes, including listed NAB League Girls. 

Hear from Dean:

“My coaching philosophy is to connect & inspire junior/youth athletes, I’m honoured to again be a custodian of football talent for the esteemed EFNL and it’s families. I will strive to add considerable value to the Under 15 program, at every opportunity. Congratulations to our whole EFNL coaching panel & to our athletes nominated, make your moment count!”

 

 

 

Rhian Greaves – Under 15 Div 2 –  Head Coach  

Rhian has been passionate about coaching since retiring from his own extensive football career in 2007. 

Rhian has held Development and assistant coaching roles with Eastern Ranges, The Basin Senior FC and Coldstream Senior FC and last year he made a great impact in a very successful carnival as Assistant Coach of ENFL Under 14s. 

Hear from Rhian:

“The challenge to mold this squad of elite talent into a cohesive team is one I embrace wholeheartedly, and I cannot wait to get started with the 2023 group.” 

 

Julian Cosgrave – Under 15 Girls Div 1  – Head Coach 

Julian Cosgrave returns for his third year as Head Coach of the EFNL Under 15 Division 1 Girls team.  Julian has had great success with both the 2021 & 2022 yet to taste defeat in the Vic Metro Series.     

Julian has an extensive involvement in football. He’s currently the Football Operations Manager at South Belgrave Junior Football Club, and coaches the U15 Boys. He also coached the SBL Wolves U14 Premier Div Girls to back to back premierships in 2018/19.

As a player, Julian played over 200 games for East Ringwood with short stints at Essendon as a junior.  

His background is in Sports Apparel having lived and worked in Hong Kong for 10 years.  

Hear from Julian:

“I love the challenge that coaching brings, whilst nurturing the next wave of talent,”

”I bring creativity to my coaching, whilst educating and challenging the girls to be the best they can be.”

  

Rhonda McMillan – Under 15 Girls Div 2 – Co – Head Coach   

Rhonda joins the EFNL Interleague program as a head coach in 2023 after being involved as a team manager last year. Rhonda has worked as and educator and has been teac

hing Secondary Health & PE for over 20 years.  

She is passionate about the development of her players, not only as footballers but also resilient and confident members of society.  

Rhonda has a vast coaching experience in both junior basketball and football.  

She has coached at Wantirna South Junior Football Club, starting out with a girls Auskick group in 2016 which then led to the establishment of the clubs first competitive girls team in 2017 and the beginning of a successful Girls football program at Wantirna South Devils, which now boasts 5 sides. The highlights for Rhonda were the U12 Premiership in 2019.  

Rhonda has continued developing the girls program and is currently coaching the girls U16 team and assisting with the inaugural Senior Women’s team at the Devils in 2023. 

Hear from Rhonda:

“I am super excited to be involved in the interleague program as a coach this year, and can’t wait to meet the girls .”

 

Michelle Williams – Under 15 Girls Div 2 – Co-Head Coach 

Michelle Williams joins the EFNL Interleague program for the first time in 2023.  

Michelle has been involved in Community Sport for over 20 years (both on and off the field) through voluntary involvement with her three children and also in a work capacity. Her roles have included coaching, umpiring, committee member and girls co-ordinator.  

Michelle also works for Sport and Recreation Victoria promoting gender equity, diversity and inclusion for women/girls and underrepresented groups across the state, and loves to see people fulfil their goals.  

Michelle has been involved with the girls football program at Heathmont Jets Junior Football Club since its inception in 2016 and has also previously coached other sporting codes over the years. 

Michelle coached her Under 16 girls to a premiership flag in 2022 and also won the Heathmont Jets Coach of the Year Award, being the first woman in the clubs history to do this.  

Hear from Michelle:

“I am passionate about helping young people grow and learn whilst having fun along the way.”

 

Jason Philactides– Under 14 Boys Div 1 – Head Coach 

Jason Philactides returns for his 3rd year of Interleague coaching having previously coached the Under 15 Boys for the last 2 Vic Metro Series. 

Jason is currently coaching at Box Hill Hawks VFL, where he has been a development coach for the past 5 seasons.  As a development coach Jason is responsible for player development, skill and knowledge. 

 Jason also runs the pathways academy between Box Hill Hawks and Eastern Rangers Football Club.  This program is designed to assist the Eastern Rangers players in their draft by introducing them to a men’s high performance program via Box Hill Hawks and assisting with them with improving their skill development.
 

 

Wayne Judge – Interleague Coaches Coordinator and Under 14 Boys Div 2 – Head Coach 

Wayne Judge returns to his role as the EFNL Interleague Coaches Co-ordinator and in 2023 will be the head coach for the Under 14 Div 2 Boys team. 

Wayne has a long history with Interleague program and now enters his 15th year with the program. In this time he has coached successfully across both the Under 14 and Under 15 age groups and across both Divisions. 

Wayne has a vast coaching background with various roles including stints as Senior Coach of Ringwood FC and Forest Hill FC; Development Coach at Eastern Ranges; Head of Football at Heathmont FNC; and is currently the Director of Football at Boronia FNC. 

Wayne is a school teacher having worked in the State education system for over 35 years. He currently holds the position of Director of Senior School at Boronia K-12 College. He has a passion for working with young people as well as a passion for working with players and coaches to further their development, skills, knowledge and understanding of the game. 

 “I am excited to again be involved in the Interleague program and to have the opportunity to again work with players and coaches. It is fantastic to see the Interleague program expanding to include a second girls’ team and to be returning to a three-game carnival format in 2023 after several years of a more restricted program.”

 

 

The league thanks Project Gap, the Hawthorn Football Club and SEDA for their partnership with the 2023 EFNL Interleague program.

 

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