Jones back in the nest

By Brad Kingsbury
BEACONSFIELD ended speculation about its coaching position yesterday (Tuesday) with the appointment of former St Kilda star and former Eagles junior Austinn Jones as the senior non-playing coach for the next two years.
Since departing the Saints at the end of 2005, Jones has built an impressive coaching resume steering Casey Cardinia League rival Narre Warren to back-to-back premierships in 2006 and 2007 and then taking the Gippsland Power TAC Cup side to a preliminary final in 2008.
He stepped away from football to pursue his business interests this year but said he was keen to return to coaching and really only wanted the one position.
“Beaconsfield is my home and the opportunity to coach the club is brilliant for me,” he said.
“It’s a different challenge to when I coached Narre Warren. They only needed a couple of little tweaks here and there, but Beacy has got some steps to take and I think my Gippsland Power experience will really help me there.
“The year teaching young kids and learning about how young kids need to be taught is perfect for this job.”
Jones said that he was almost certain to snare the services of tough Vermont triple-premiership midfielder Andrew Smith as an assistant but added that he was keen to develop the club’s already strong youth as his first priority.
“A lot of the kids have had success at under 18s but need to step that up to senior level. We probably need to add a little bit of fire power to it and some strength around the footy but the home-grown talent is there and that’s exciting,” he said.
“My aim is not to make too many changes. I want to come in and get the best out of the guys who want to come down and play for a great footy club.”
Jones’ appointment came as a result of an extensive search for a leader after the retirement of Robbie Taylor last week.
President Terry Lock said that Jones had proved in a very short time as a coach, that he had the skills, knowledge, ability and vision to develop a winning team through discipline and a team-first approach.
“Austinn is a Beacy boy who went on to play 226 games at the highest level and achieve all-Australian status on two occasions,” he said.
“He has come back with a burning passion to make this club successful once again and it is a wonderful opportunity for all involved.”
Lock added that there would be more appointments over the coming weeks to complete the 2010 football department.
An information night with Jones will be held at 7pm on Tuesday 1 September at the Perc Allison Oval social rooms.
Lock will step down as president next year but remain on the club’s executive, with former president John Airdrie set to assume the chair for another term.