By Phil Edwards, The Examiner
New North Launceston State League coach Tom Couch plans to lead from the front both on and off the field as he takes over the reins from Zane Littlejohn.
The 28-year-old has big shoes to fill and a lot to learn about the club and state league football but cannot wait to get started.
Couch admitted he has not watched a game of State League football but said he had spoken to former Melbourne teammates in Colin Garland, Sam Darley and Jeremy Howe about football in the state.
“They are passionate Tassie guys and passionate about the sport down here and I’ve spoken to them about what to expect,” Couch said.
“I won’t lie – I haven’t watched a game of State League but I am really excited to just get stuck into it now.”
Couch said strength and conditioning had been more of a background for him than coaching but he had enjoyed working with an under-18 side in Melbourne this year.
He said he does not feel under any extra pressure taking over from Littlejohn and his impressive record.
“The work I’ve been doing the last two or three months has been pretty high pressure and when I got off the plane the other day it just felt right.
“I’m not too worried about the pressure – I don’t think it is a straight swap because I will be playing and obviously the assistants will take a bit more of a role on game day but I think I will be able to contribute on the field and that will be a bit different.
“Zane has done a great job – two premierships and three grand finals in three years and talking to the leadership group the leadership program they have in place is run by the players and they are mature enough, even though they are quite young, to carry on as well as they have.
“In terms of analysing the game and that sort of thing – as a player and a coach I think you get more of a feel by playing with them and you can see where the game is at.
“I think my feedback to the players will be when you notice things – whether they pick the ball up cleanly and give it firsthand – you just notice those things more when you are playing.
“Obviously talk to the assistant coaches after the game and just prepare what we will talk to the players about during the week and I will be really hands-on as a coach.
“Structures and all that stuff is important and getting to know the players and what makes them tick and what they need to improve on and really get a feel for where they are at.
“I know personally as a player I like that.”
He met the North leadership group on Monday night and probably 25 or 30 players all up and was impressed by their first meeting.
“The leaders seem really hungry and ready go again and have had their break and you have to be ready to train and they are so we will start back on the 28th, he said.
He expected to have about 25 in the first intake for the Simon Black Academy in Launceston in his dual role as academy coach which could still grow to 30 or 35 before the first session kicks off.
Couch feels he has plenty to offer both roles.
“I think it is going to demanding splitting my time between the academy role and the North coaching job – the academy will operate Monday to Thursday and then two to three nights training with the club depending on the time of the year.
“As a coach with North Launceston I am playing and I’ve had a pretty good year in the VFL. I’ve played state league there for five or six years and in the SANFL and at various different clubs so I’ve had a bit of experience.
“But on the field I like to lead out there and plan during the week but when it is game day I am focused on getting a kick because I can’t tell anyone what to do if I can’t do that.
“So first and foremost that is my job to get fit and lead from the front.”
He doesn’t dwell too much on having managed just three senior AFL games with Melbourne in his career.
”Honestly, I don’t look back on it too much – I”ve got over it now and Mark Neeld gave me the opportunity when no-one else would and it has opened up a lot of doors.
“I probably wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for that so I still think three games is better than none and that’s the way I look at it and the opportunities it has opened up plus the work I’ve done at Collingwood and Richmond in the past and Tennis Australia and the friendships you build.
“I knew it wasn’t going to be forever at AFL level but hoped it was going to be for three or four years but I finished on the two and I am more than happy with the way it turned out definitely.
Couch expects that the game plan he will introduce will be similar to the one they were used to under Littlejohn said he had at least one recruit he was keen to bring with him to the club
“I wanted to come in and get a feel for the place – the juniors are coming up and the kids are all young and I didn’t want to bring three or four guys in and change the dynamics because it is a big enough change as it is.
“Speaking to the players and coaches the game plan will be very similar – I have played a lot of VFL footy with AFL-listed guys but if you cram the players with too much information they can sort of lose that edge just to get the footy.
“I will encourage them to back themselves – they are playing state league footy so they are doing something right so back their system.
“I don’t want to make too many big statements about how we will go because I still remember Neeldy’s first conference saying they will be pretty hard to beat and they didn’t go too well – so we will just wait and see how we go because I haven’t even seen them train yet.”
He expects to draw on his experience in working with a number of different coaches but when asked who the biggest influence had been on his football he had no hesitation in answering.
“My dad (the late Geelong Brownlow Medallist Paul Couch) – how I coach will be what dad was like with me.
“I’ve had a lot of coaches and I probably pick up on the ones that aren’t as good and you notice those things more than the good stuff and that sticks in your mind a bit like screaming at a player and you think that ‘s a bit harsh on him.
“Having played VFL and AFL you have a bit of a background on how to talk to players and what matters to me is getting the fundamentals of the game right and that will be a big focus for me.
“I want the players to enjoy their footy and have fun – we are going to train hard but we are going to enjoy it at the same time –mix it up and make training enjoyable but competitive and push each other – but as soon as you walk off the track you have a bit of a laugh.”