Burnett Has Lion Cubs As Top Priority

Illawarra Mercury

Wednesday November 12, 2008

By MIKE DRISCOLL

NEW Wollongong Lions head coach Trevor Burnett says getting the best out of his young team will be a priority when he takes over the top job later this month.

Burnett replaces Jason Philp, who told the club late last month he was unable to continue next season after accepting a work offer in Perth.

Burnett initially knocked back the Lions job due to family reasons but had a rethink.

"I spoke to a few people and got their views and did a bit of a list of pros and cons about the job and came to the conclusion now was as good a time as any," Burnett said.

"I've been interested in this kind of position for a while now and the chance to come back to the Lions, for whom I played nine seasons is something I'm really looking forward to."

Burnett takes on the Lions role with the club at the crossroads after four seasons in the Sydney AFL yielded only 12 wins from 72 games, including just two wins and the wooden spoon in 2008.

The club don't have the big recruiting budgets of the top Sydney teams, while Wollongong as a base is too far from Sydney to attract experienced, hardened Sydney AFL players the Lions desperately need.

"We've got to look at our core group of players and get the very best out of them," Burnett said.

"We've got a talented group of young players coming through and they need to be developed. My goal's to maximise the potential of every player we have, get them to play to their very best and if we do that then we'll improve as a club.

Burnett comes with an impressive playing and coaching resume. He joined the Lions in 1987, is a former club best and fairest, and won three Snow medals as the top player in Sydney AFL Division 2.

He also played a decade with Campbelltown in the elite Sydney AFL Premier Division, winning three premierships, plus the top individual award, the Phelan medal, as the competition's best and fairest.

A school teacher by profession, Burnett comes to the Lions after coaching the NSW All Schools under 15 side for the past three years.

His experience in mentoring young players will be especially valuable with the Lions' seniors side loaded with teenagers in 2008.

The Lions begin preseason for 2009 with an open training session at Stuart Park on Tuesday, November 25, at 6.15pm.

© 2008 Illawarra Mercury

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