Briggs takes on Panthers

By Brad Kingsbury
DEVON Meadows Football Club’s thorough search for a coach to replace Craig Hunter ended last week with the appointment of former VFA player and premiership coach Wayne Briggs.
Briggs led Southern Football League club Mordialloc to the 1999 division-two flag after a long drought and is well aware that the Panthers’ challenge is even greater, given the club is yet to win its first premiership.
“There’s a lot of work to be done,” he said.
“My aim was to get involved in the Casey Cardinia League. It’s a competition that’s getting stronger by the year and it’s exciting to be part of. I’m learning more about Devon Meadows every day and it’s a great challenge.”
Briggs played with former VFA clubs Waverley and Oakleigh before captain-coaching Mordialloc from 1999 until the end of 2002.
The 38-year-old plumber has had the past two-and-a-half years off, spending that time building his business and family life at Cranbourne with wife Michelle and children Lauren seven, Matt five and Jayde four months.
He decided the time was right to get back into coaching and the opportunity at Devon Meadows was ideal.
“It’s what I love doing,” he said.
“Living down here, I’ve followed the Peninsula, now Casey Cardinia football and Michelle is a netballer and will be involved with that side of the club, so it’s a good mix.”
Briggs has already started work and has been busy interviewing players with a view to developing a team structure and attitude that will remedy the Panthers’ costly habit of inconsistency.
“We need to pick up four or five players, but I’m going through the process of interviewing every player on the list from last year first. I think that’s important before you start looking at recruits,” he said.
“I get the feeling that there are a few players that mightn’t have been willing to stick to their given tasks last year and that’s an area we need to work on. As far as our game plan goes, we will develop that in line with the players we’ve got, but it won’t be too complicated.”