MATT Rava’s right hand man has followed him to Osborne.
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Wagga Tigers assistant coach Pat Delaney has signed with the Hume League for this season.
He will share the assistant coaching duties with Osborne’s incumbent Marty Bahr.
Delaney, 24, returned to Wagga Tigers last year after time with Belconnen in the North Eastern Australian Football League (NEAFL).
He battled a knee injury but still contributed strongly across half-back and through the midfield.
Delaney said a change lured him to Osborne.
“I felt like I needed a bit of a change of scenery, to freshen up a little bit,” Delaney said.
“I was only ever going to come back for a year but the knee injury didn’t help things too much.”
Delaney underwent a knee reconstruction at the end of the 2014 season before his return to Tigers.
He pushed hard to play 17 games last year but had to undergo another reconstruction at season’s end.
Delaney is looking forward to the challenge at Osborne.
“I’m pretty excited about it,” he said.
“They have a good young group, they have won the under 17s the last three years in a row so there is plenty to work with there.
“It’s obviously an exciting time for them.”
Delaney is already back training with the group and has his sights set on playing round one.
Rava is thrilled to have his assistant join him at Osborne.
“Pat’s keen to continue our coaching relationship out at Osborne,” Rava said.
“He was basically on one leg last year, he’s had his knee fixed up and he’ll play through the midfield.
“I’m really looking for him to step up another gear and I think he’ll be pretty dynamic for us.”
Osborne has lost full-forward Trent Perczyk to rivals Culcairn, while Matt Klemke and Rory Muggivan have also moved on.
Rava, Delaney and Duncan McMaster have come in.