Henwood Park have pulled off a coaching coup with Matt Menser and Michael Babic to join forces once again.
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After guiding Wagga City Wanderers to premiership success last season, the pair will reunite in the Football Wagga competition.
While Menser is no stranger to the Hawks, after last coaching the club in 2019, Babic will return to the Football Wagga fold supporting new colours after previously being at the helm of Lake Albert.
Menser is looking to have a bigger role on the field this season and believes continuing his coaching partnership with Babic is a perfect way to do so.
"I was looking to play again and play again for Henwood as the travel with the Wanderers is just too much for me," Menser said.
"Henwood Park didn't have a coach and as I wanted to play and they still didn't have a coach the club spoke to Mick and he agreed to help me.
"We'll share the duties so I'll still be able to play that way."
The two coaches squared off for the 2017 Football Wagga premiership, which Menser and the Hawks won in a penalty shoot out.
Now with Babic on board, Menser is looking forward to expanding his playing role once more.
"Last time I coached I ended up not playing very much and I want to keep playing," he said.
Henwood Park didn't lose a game throughout the regular season before crashing out of the finals with successive losses.
The club isn't expecting a lot of turnover from last season but former president Ryan Smith is hopeful bringing in two quality coaches could be a drawcard.
"They worked very well together last year at Wanderers to win a premiership and also worked together in Lake Albert's premiership in 2016 before Matt switched over to us," Smith said.
"Mick is an incredible coach with a proven track record while Matt has the same proven track record but will probably focus more on playing as well as being that co-coach on the field."
Menser is confident the side can regroup after a disappointing end to last season.
"I think it's a positive if most of the guys from last year hang around," he said.
"I haven't been down to run a session yet but with the core group from last year it should be pretty good."
After a late finish to last year's season due to the impact of COVID-19, the Hawks are just starting to get to training.
Despite there being less than two months until the start of the season, Menser doesn't believe it will be a problem for the club.
"It turned into a pretty long season last year and the guys I've spoken to who played local league said it went over such a long period because of the stop," he said.
"It will be good this year to hopefully have no stops and get a clean run through."
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