Stawell Warriors announce Tom Eckel and Jay Moody as coaches for 2022 season

The Warriors were keen to get pen to paper for senior coach Tom Eckel to continue his role once more.

By his side will once again be assistant Jay Moody - who has relished his first coaching opportunity in the 2021 season.

"It was a pretty easy decision in the end," Eckel said.

"I'm basically coaching all my mates and I'm really enjoying it. Everything is going pretty well and I feel the footy club is heading in the right direction."

Eckel previously coached the Warriors' senior team in 2017 and rejoined the club in 2019 after a one-season stint with SANFL club Glenelg.

The midfielder said he had experienced a different season to his previous coaching stint.

"Having a good football department behind you and the direction the football club is heading has made the job a lot easier," he said.

OTHER NEWS:

"The toughest challenge this year would be the COVID-19 nonsense - all the stopping and starting has made it a challenge to keep players motivated.

"We've had a few injuries as well which hasn't helped to build that momentum heading into finals."

Eckel said social media and communication played a big part in his plan to keep players engaged.

"It's boring - weekends are boring," he said.

"You play football for the love of the game but you are involved in the club socially. That's what is missed the most."

The Warriors had a stellar first half of the year - going through the first five rounds undefeated before succumbing at the hands of 2019 premiers Minyip-Murtoa in round six. Heading into the final few rounds of the season, the Warriors' senior football team sit third on the Wimmera league ladder.

MORE NEWS:

"We've given some of those fringe players, ones who were playing reserves but had the potential to play seniors, a go," Eckel said.

"They've always been senior footballers, but haven't had the opportunity to play.

"We've put in a bit of structure and game plan in place and everyone knows their role and it paid off, especially in the first five to six weeks before those injuries started to creep in."

Eckel said the opportunity of those players stepping up was the biggest highlight of the 2021 season so far.

"We always knew they were good enough it was more about how were we going to get that out of them," he said.

Moody echoed Eckel's sentiments about the team and believed there was a lot of promising things happening for the club into the future.

"Just considering the year we've had so far and our position on the ladder it just shows we've got a lot of promise and a bright future," he said.

"We've got most of the same group - we're hoping everyone signs on."

Eckel said he had started having conversations with the senior players and their plans for the 2022 season.

If you can see this message, you are a loyal digital subscriber to The Stawell Times-News, as we made this story available only to subscribers. Thank you very much for your support and for allowing us to continue telling Stawell's story. We appreciate your support of journalism in our great town.