Saints hope Shark will give them extra bite

Mullewa Football Club hope the appointment of East Fremantle's Lachlan Waterman as head coach will help propel them to finals.

The Saints will make an early return to pre-season training this year to give the Sharks' former coaching assistant extra time to meet the playing group and begin implementing his plans for the club.

Waterman said the prospect of coaching his own team and the club’s desire to win convinced him to apply for the role.

“It’s a massive challenge and it’s one of the most exciting moments I’ve had in my career, so I’m really looking forward to it,” he said.

“After speaking to the people around the club, I got the sense that everyone is really hungry for some success and that’s really what enticed me to the position.

“Obviously, we’ve got a lot of work to do but at the moment I can’t wait to get up there and meet everyone.”

The 47-year-old spent four years in various coaching roles at East Fremantle after a long playing career with Plympton and Glenelg in South Australia.

In his time with the Sharks, Waterman served as development coach, forward coach and opposition analyst.

Mullewa Football Club president Peter Sweeney said Waterman’s experience and passion made him the right man for the job.

“He has good credentials and his enthusiasm and commitment to the game is unquestionable,” he said.

“As a football club, I think we can do things better on and off the field.

“Our talent is not an issue, but our discipline, commitment and focus has to improve and I think Lachlan will help us do that.”

Mullewa will hope to recapture their 2013 premiership success when they return this year with Waterman at the helm.

The new coach will be the third in as many years for the Saints.

The club has struggled to find a solid replacement since Revis Ryder stepped down in 2013.

This year marks the 50th anniversary of Mullewa’s first premiership in 1963.

Waterman said he would use the milestone to help overcome the challenges the Saints face in the coming season.

“I’m aware the club has been under-resourced in the past, so we understand we have to work really hard in order to get the results we’re hoping for,” he said.

“I want to build on our run and speed, which has been highly regarded, and I really want the team to have a mentality that we may be down, but never beaten.”

Waterman will step in to fill the coaching position vacated by former Docker Josh Simpson, who will return to Perth to try to reignite his playing career through the WAFL.