Goannas land assistant coach

After moving back to Wagga earlier in the season, Casey signed on with MCUE in August after training with the club during the season.

Casey played out the season with Lancaster in the Kyabram & District Football League but has been an integral part of the MCUE’s planning for 2014 for months alongside coach Nathon Irvin.

Casey said he had settled into Wagga well and admitted he was looking forward to getting to work with MCUE to help lift the Goannas up the ladder next year.

“My future father in-law has a lot of mates out at Mango and they knew I was moving home before I was,” Casey said.

“Nathon called me and said I was welcome to train with the club while I was travelling back (to Lancaster) and after training with the boys for a month or so Nathon offered me the assistant role.

“It (MCUE) has been great and it is very similar to the club I played for back home.

“All the boys are great and that’s half the battle won when you are going into a new group.

“I am just looking forward to starting pre-season and seeing how we go.”

After making the finals for the first time since 2010 this year, MCUE suffered a loss to Wagga Tigers in the opening week of the finals series and was eliminated.

MCUE has planned to start pre-season training next month and Casey said the Goannas were looking to forge further ahead on the field in 2014.

“The boys played in an elimination final this year and with the list we already have and the signings we will hopefully have for next year I would be hoping we play deep into the finals series,” Casey said.

Casey said he was thrilled with the opportunity to step into a coaching role with MCUE.

“Very much so (excited by the assistant role),” Casey said.

“My old man was a coach and I grew up being at a football ground every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturdays so I always wanted to follow in his footsteps and get into coaching.”

MCUE has managed to re-sign the majority of its playing list for next year with Stace and James Creasy, Andrew Dickins, Trent Cohalan and Harry and Jack Collins among a host of senior players who recently signed on again.

MCUE held its presentation night last week with ruckman Dickins capping a magnificent season by winning the best-and-fairest ahead of midfielder James Creasy.

MCUE has also been in discussions with several potential recruits to join the club but none have been confirmed just yet.

Casey comes to MCUE as a key forward and he has finished with more than 50 goals in two of his past three seasons.

Casey is expected to form a lethal forward-line combination with the likes of Isaac Damme and Ryan Price for MCUE next season.