VFL
THE Dolphins have appointed St Kilda assistant coach Adam Skrobalak as senior coach for the next two seasons.
Skrobalak, who will continue his role at St Kilda in a part-time capacity, as well as coaching Dolphins, is a former premiership coach in both the Bellarine and Geelong and District League, as well as holding assistant roles at Port Melbourne VFL and Western Jets in the TAC.
According to Dolphins General Manager Gary Buckenara, Skrobalak’s signing “heralds a most exciting period for the club.
“Upon reinstatement of our VFL Licence a few months ago the club has set itself a clear goal to establishing itself as the “hub of football on the Peninsula” and once again provide every football lover on the Peninsula with a VFL team that they can call their own,” Buckenara said.
“Adam is fully supportive of our aim to develop local talent and involve ourselves in community football. This broader coaching role will take up three quarters of his week and allows Adam to also continue his role at the St Kilda FC on a part time basis.
“The outcome is that for the first time our coach will have a full time commitment to football and be able to truly lead our club into the semi-professional era that is VFL football.
“He will also have continued contact with trends, training technology and tactics at AFL level which will only increase his value to us.
Skrobalak said he was extremely excited to be appointed as Senior coach of the Dolphins.
“I fully understand the challenge ahead as we re-enter the VFL and our aim is to create an elite football environment where players can challenge themselves at VFL level and as a group work to become a revered football club both on and off field,” Skrobalak said.
“Personally, the opportunity to coach in my own right and lead the on field direction of such a proud club is an honour,” he said.
In more exciting news for the Dolphins, they have partnered with St Kilda Football Club to support the Southern Saints, who are set to become an important part of the women’s football pathway as St Kilda prepares for entry into the AFL Women’s Competition in 2020.
The move comes after the Seaford Football Netball Club, in consultation with AFL Victoria, opted to transfer its VFL Women’s licence to St Kilda.
St Kilda General Manager of Football Performance Jamie Cox said the time is right for a St Kilda team to enter the competition in partnership with the Dolphins.
“There are more than 170 girls and women’s teams in the peninsula region, making it arguably the strongest talent base in Australia,” Cox said.
