Article courtesy of the Townsville Bulletin
ANTONY STEWART | December 28th, 2011
AN admission of a "huge learning curve" ahead hasn't stopped Mark Chambers from predicting big things for Curra in 2012.
The 34-year-old will fill the giant shoes of Peter Young as coach of the Swans' AFL Townsville Premiership team - his first stint in charge of a team since he hung up the playing boots at the end of last season.
But in a ringing endorsement, it was Young - Townsville's AFL Queensland development manager - who hand-picked Chambers.
"I don't have to reinvent the wheel, it's just basically keeping the squad going the way he had it going," Chambers said.
"For me, I think it's going to be a bit of a learning curve, it's a bit different from playing where you have 22 guys relying on you as opposed to only worrying about getting 20 kicks a game, but I'm looking forward to it.
"We're a young side and it's just exciting for the new year."
Young's youth policy helped turn the AFL Townsville Premiership's easybeats into genuine contenders last season and there is an expectation in-house that the Swans can continue their resurgence in 2012.
But it won't be easy.
Curra will be minus last season's league best and fairest Adam McDonald, along with Jarrod Hill, after both men joined a club in the North East Australian Football League, while standout Steven Taylor also won't play.
Then there's Josh Hall, who was snapped up by the Gold Coast Suns in the AFL rookie draft.
Chambers, though, said he was comfortable with the club's depth.
"We've picked up a couple of players ... but we've also got a good base, and last year we always knew who we were going to put out week after week, which really helps in any team sport," he said.
While Chambers still looks fit enough to play, he said he would be concentrating 100 per cent on coaching next year.
"I don't want to do it 50-50, I've played under player-coaches before and I always said if I coached, I'd just do it solely," he said.
"Just with the pace of the game you need to be on the bench seeing it yourself."
Chambers isn't boldly predicting premiership glory just yet, but believes his side has the potential to make a major impact in 2012.
"Absolutely, that's my goal 100 per cent," he said.
"It's just an exciting group, a really good bunch of juniors who have been successful their whole junior playing careers have come through ... and with the older heads too, I think we'll be really competitive."
Curra begin pre-season training on January 5 and are planning up to three pre-season matches, against Cairns and Mackay club sides, ahead of the start of the AFL Townsville Premiership which kicks off in late March.
Last Modified on 30/12/2011 12:15