PANMURE has turned to former Geelong and West Coast forward David Haynes to lead its bid for Warrnambool and District league redemption.
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Haynes has signed on as a playing coach for the next two seasons, replacing Maskell Medal-winning onballer Simon “Tocka” O’Keefe at the helm.
O’Keefe led Panmure to three grand finals, winning flags in 2012 and 2013. He has returned to Koroit as an assistant coach under Adam Dowie.
The Bulldogs wasted little time in securing a high-quality replacement in Haynes, who arrives with an impressive resume.
The 33-year-old started his career at North Warrnambool Eagles and landed at West Coast with pick 16 in the 1999 national draft, via Geelong Falcons.
He spent four seasons in Perth and a further two with Geelong, kicking 58 goals from 65 matches.
Haynes returned to the south-west in early 2011 and coached North for three seasons, leading the Bushfield club to three consecutive finals series.
He had a year away from football in 2014. But the enthusiasm for coaching never waned during his time away.
“I always wanted to coach again. The opportunity arose,” he said.
“Being where they’ve been and what they’ve done the last few years under Tocka, it was something that grabbed my attention.
“I went to half-a-dozen District league games last year and the same with the Hampden league. I followed it a little bit.”
Haynes said he had a few clubs chasing him to play but “Panmure was the only one that really appealed to me”.
He said the Bulldogs’ strong ties with the Panmure community — dozens of dairy farms surround the Princes Highway town — stood out.
“That was the most impressive thing about the club, their community and supporter base and what they had to say about that,” he said. “And speaking with a few guys — I did my homework — they said that was a big thing.”
Haynes inherits a Panmure side with its premiership window still open, despite grand final heartbreak against Merrivale in September.
The Bulldogs were a hard-running and disciplined outfit under O’Keefe and look likely to retain the bulk of their playing list.
“It’s going to be good going there. They’ve got a core group of guys who have been there for a while,” Haynes said.
“Timmy Condon is a four-time premiership player and there are a few young kids coming through.”
Haynes said Panmure was yet to sign an assistant coach. He said he would meet with the Bulldogs’ committee to discuss recruiting targets.
“You always go out and see what’s about. We’ll sit down with the president and the recruiting guys and nut out a few things, make a few phone calls,” he said.