By Tara Murray
Tom Carroll is making the move from youth league coach to senior men’s coach at the Craigieburn Eagles.
Carroll, who has coached the club’s Big V youth league division two side for the past two seasons, will replace Simon Wilson who has stood down after three years.
Carroll said it was an exciting time to coach the senior side at the club he’s grown up at.
“It was a little bit of a surprise,” he said.
“For the last month we’ve been in discussions, since we knew that Simon was stepping down.
“I’ve been at the club close to 20 years. I’ve coached through juniors at domestic and representative level. It’s the next challenge.”
Carroll said he was happy to continue coaching the youth league team, but this was too good an opportunity to turn down.
He said it was his brother, Eagles senior women’s coach Ben Carroll, who encouraged him to take the role.
“Youth league has been a lot of fun for me and I would have loved to have kept coaching them.
“Simon has done a great job and I’ve worked closely with him. I’ve had a lot to do with Simon behind the scenes. We are in contact nearly every day.”
Lachlan Stokan, who has been Carroll’s assistant, will step up to coach the youth league side.
Carroll said it would be a handy connection to have already built.
Carroll said the most exciting thing about taking on the role was the young talent at the club to complement the current side.
“There’s a lot coming through youth league. They’re starting to knock down the door for selection.
“We’ve got three quality guys from youth league that will age out.
“They’ve already played a few games for the men’s side. It’s a good problem to have.”
Ben Carroll and Debbie Coulson will continue in their respective roles in the women’s program.
Tom Carroll said it was a good time for Craigieburn Eagles.
“We’re starting to get the buy-in at the club and we’re starting to see the results.
“The next three to five years there will be some real positive growth.”
