FORMER Turvey Park mentor Mark Carroll is set to continue his coaching career at Riverina League rival Coolamon next season.
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The Hoppers have appointed Carroll as the club's new co-coach alongside Jake Barrett for next season, with Jamie Maddox stepping down.
Carroll only last month resigned from Turvey Park as co-coach due to personal concerns around playing through the COVID-19 pandemic and was quickly snapped up by the Hoppers.
Carroll led Turvey Park alongside Jeremy Sykes for the 2019 season after previously having led their under 17 team to back-to-back premierships.
A four-time premiership player at his home club, Ganmain-Grong Grong-Matong, Carroll had little hesitation in crossing enemy lines to take the job at Coolamon.
"I really am looking forward to it," Carroll said.
'"Once I got my head around it. I had a few things going on with my family and that sort of thing. I did not go ahead with Turvey Park there with this COVID thing, we've all got our own different circumstances so when (Coolamon) first came along, I was a bit flat I suppose. But the last week I've really got excited.
"I've always had a great respect for Coolamon but you just look at the set up they've got out there now and I am excited. The last three or four days I've been really excited.
"I think the main word is the foundation's good there. You really can't go wrong. I won't be pulling the place apart that's for sure, I'm just there to help and guide and be there to support."
The new coaching partnership takes over from the pairing of Maddox and Barrett, who were set to lead the Hoppers this season until COVID-19 hit.
The new pairing are well known to each other. They work together and it was Barrett who approached 'Curl' about the potential partnership.
"We've got a great relationship at work, we get along really well," Barrett said.
"I mentioned it to him a few weeks after the Turvey thing, have you made any plans and he wasn't quite sure but the last couple of weeks he became really interested.
"He's obviously had a lot of experience at Turvey, I saw a lot of similarities between Curl and (Maddox), in terms of the way they approach the players and they speak to players. They are both great educators so I thought he could be a great replacement."
Having helped a young Turvey Park list to sixth spot last season, Carroll is looking forward to a second crack at senior coaching.
"It's one thing I think I'm pretty good at, to be honest with you. It comes naturally to me I think. As you get older, I think you get better at the coaching gig," Carroll said.
"I've had a stint at Turvey, and the 17s. I've been doing Giants Academy for I don't know how long now but you just learn as you go and get better. I think I'm in a good spot with it."
Barrett, who has been missing football a lot this season, is looking forward to teaming up alongside Carroll outside of work.
"It will be good for our young guys. We've got a young playing group still and someone like him, he just knows how to talk to people," Barrett said.
"For an older fella, he's got a young footy brain. I feel like he'll bring a lot to the table in terms of game plans as well. I reckon we'll work really well together."
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