VETERAN Warrnambool midfielder Josh Walters will have a different footy focus next season.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Walters, a Maskell Medal winner and five-time premiership player, is the new coach of the Blues’ under 18½s.
The appointment marks Walters’ first foray into coaching.
Will it mean the end of his decorated playing career, which also includes seven club best and fairest awards from more than 200 games?
Asked if he would play on, Walters said: “At this stage probably not.”
“I’m going in a bit green, I don’t have much coaching experience. I don’t know how much time it will take up. That will be my main focus at the start. If I do play, it will only be later on.”
Walters said he was looking forward to joining the coaching ranks. He said his son Jordan would be a bottom-age player with the Blues under 18½s next season.
“I’m going to be there with him so I thought I might as well get involved,” he said.
Walters said he hoped to fast-track many teenagers for senior footy.
“It would be good to get them exposed more to senior footy and get some involved in the Rebels (TAC Cup) program and representative footy,” he said.
The Blues have also announced veteran key forward Travis Graham is taking on a development coach role.
Football operations manager Damien Sell said Graham would mentor and work with players moving from the under 18½s to reserves and seniors.
Sell said the Blues had nine players stepping out of underage footy into the reserves or seniors this year and the jump could be daunting.
grbest@fairfaxmedia.com.au