New look coaching panel in 2023

30/01/2023

The Sandringham Football Club is pleased to announce our new look coaching group heading into the 2023 VFL season. 

Jake Batchelor will continue as Head Coach of the Zebras and will be supported by assistant coaches Brendon Goddard, Chris McKay, Andy Farrall, Dan Coffield, Lee Rowe and Head of Strength & Conditioning, Tom Laumets.

Brendon Goddard

Goddard replaces outgoing Assistant Coach, Ben Jacobs, who has taken on an assistant coaching role at Essendon FC. Goddard was recently appointed St Kilda FC’s Development Coach, consequently providing him the opportunity for an assistant coach role at the Zebras. He played 334 AFL games at St Kilda and Essendon.

Chris McKay

McKay returns to the Zebras, following the departure of Trent Dennis-Lane, who has been appointed Head Coach of the Western Jets. McKay has been an analyst with St Kilda for 10 years and began his assistant coaching role with the Zebras in 2020 before being promoted at St Kilda FC. McKay has previously been an assistant coach at Frankston and also spent time with Sandy as a player in the Club’s VFL Development League side between 2013-16.

Andy Farrall

Andy Farrall will continue as an assistant coach in the 2023 season after joining us in 2021. He has plenty of VFL experience having previously been an assistant coach at the Box Hill Hawks under Max Bailey. Farrall has also worked with the VFLW Southern Saints throughout the second half of 2022 in a development role. 

Dan Coffield

Former player Dan Coffield returns to the Zebras as an assistant coach for the 2023 season. Coffield has an excellent VFL resume, including playing 62 games with Richmond's VFL side, a Premiership in 2019, as well as an inclusion in their leadership group. With his brother Nick at St Kilda and former Richmond team mate, Jake Batchelor, now the Zebra's Head Coach, the decision for Dan to play for us in 2021 was effortless. Taking on the role of captaincy in the same year, Coffield became an integral member of our club. He will bring a great deal of experience and leadership to the new role.  

Lee Rowe

Lee Rowe joins us as our Development Coach, bringing with him an optimistic mindset and an approach to his coaching that focusses on the process opposed to results. Rowe has an extensive coaching history ranging from the Eastern Football League (EFL), Goulburn Valley Football League (GVFL) and Yarra Ranges Football & Netball League (YVMDFL), to Port Melbourne and Casey Demons VFL in which he worked as a development coach, assisting forwards and midfielders, and a player liaison. 

Tom Laumets

Tom Laumets previously spent 5 years as a Zebras player before taking a permanent role at the Club as Head of Strength & Conditioning in 2020. Laumets also works with the St Kilda Academy as well as the AFL boys, educating them on the importance of recovery and conditioning and how they can put their best foot forward in this aspect.

Written by Nick Collins - Sandringham Football Club Media