Premiership coach Christin Macri is back in the top job at Ganmain-Grong Grong-Matong.
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The Lions unveiled Macri as the club’s new coach on Wednesday, ending the search for a replacement to outgoing leader Luke Sicker.
Macri, a former AFL player at Western Bulldogs, is no stranger to the club and led the Lions to the Riverina League premiership in 2006.
GGGM only won two games this year and with the loss of several senior players since, decided Macri was the man to rebuild the senior team.
Macri cannot wait to get started.
“I’m very excited. It’s a good strong list of young kids and I know with the right guidance, we can really develop their footy,” Macri said.
“In the few games I saw this year, I thought there was some really good young kids there and the opportunity presented itself and I jumped at it, so I’m really excited.”
Macri’s last senior coaching role was two seasons at Farrer League club Temora in 2015-16.
Before that, he spent six years in development roles with Greater Western Sydney (GWS) and AFL NSW-ACT’s talent player programs.
“All my previous coaching, before Temora, was about junior development,” Macri said.
“I’ve done enough coaching work and around development to know what I believe is right for these kids, and what’s going to work, and that’s why I’m there. It’s about developing these kids for the future of our footy club. I think I’ll be able to do a good job of that.”
GGGM president Jason Linsell said Macri was the perfect fit for the position the club finds itself in.
“Because our group is such a young group, Luke (Sicker) done a great job with them last year, keeping them upbeat and everything but we just found that the kids really need somebody to direct them in their football careers,” Linsell said.
“Even though they’re only in their early years, it’s just something we feel as though Christin can really bring to the table, that real leadership and coach the kids, not just show up and play.”
Macri spent the last 12 months out of football but found he still has the desire to coach.
“I have, and it had to be the right job for me. I’ve had a year away from the game, and I enjoyed that, but I’ve had some other clubs call and I said no straight away but Ganmain’s my home club and it’s a great opportunity,” he said.
Macri first arrived at GGGM in 2006 and has stayed involved with the club ever since. He has a strong passion for the Lions.
“Absolutely, it’s in me. And it’s in everyone that goes through the place,” Macri said.
“My son’s eight, he turns nine next year, we’re heading out there to junior footy whether we make the Wagga juniors or not. That was first and foremost what we were doing.
“I have a real connection, not only being a premiership player and that sort of thing but I just love the place and they’re great people. It’s a great place to be around.”
Macri is not going to place any expectations, or limits, on the young Lions group.
“As far as the development of the kids, that’s my first and foremost, to get them heading in the right direction and hopefully that will equate to on field performance,” he said.
“But there’s no set time on where the success comes from, or when it comes, it’s just a matter of playing the right footy. And with young kids, you can give them the right tools, set them up well and you can be really surprised how quickly they jump on board and have strong performances.
“There will be no holding back in terms of what we can achieve, we’ll just go and take each day as it comes and that will be it from there.”
GGGM will begin pre-season training in January.
Macri’s appointment completes the Riverina League coaching puzzle for 2018.
Christin Macri’s coaching history
2015-16: Temora senior coach
2014: GWS Giants NEAFL team bench coach
2014: GWS Giants under 16 Academy coach & NSW-ACT under 18 development coach Wagga
2013: NSW-ACT Rams under 18 assistant coach
2012-13: GWS Giants under 18 Academy coach
2009-12: Under 18 Riverina zone coach, NSW-ACT AFL talented player program
2010: GGGM bench coach
2006-07: GGGM senior coach
2005: Williamstown assistant coach
2003-04: Wodonga Raiders senior coach
2002: Wodonga Raiders assistant coach
SENIOR PLAYING CAREER
2006-09: GGGM
2005: Williamstown
2002-04: Wodonga Raiders
2001: East Wagga-Kooringal
1998-2000: Western Bulldogs
1996-97: Leongatha
1993-95: Central Districts
1987-1992: Golden Square