Andrew Turner named Coach of the Year
AFL (NSW/ACT) is pleased to announce Westbrook’s Andrew Turner has been presented with the 2010 State Coach of the Year award.
With over 100 nominations across 28 regions throughout NSW and the ACT, it is a fantastic achievement for the coaching stalwart of ten years.
Having coached junior AFL club Westbrook across a number of age groups, one of Turner’s biggest achievements has been coaching his son Stuart – who recently joined the AFL’s 18th club Team GWS on a scholarship.
Once told of the news he had won the 2010 Coach of the Year award Turner said he thought he was the subject of a practical joke.
“Is this a gee up? Has someone put you up to this?,” Turner said.
“It did actually come as a surprise, you don’t go looking for rewards but to be rewarded for something you love doing is even more satisfying.”
The AFL (NSW/ACT) State Coach of the Year award aims to recognise coaches who have provided quality service to the development of the game.
In its second year, the award is given to the coach who displays strength of character in the role of coaching, fosters enthusiasm for participation in football, upholds the goals and values of the football club and league and someone who promotes healthy mental and physical development of players.
Turner said his biggest motivation to coach his beloved Westbrook is to work with the players.
“What I really enjoy about coaching is the satisfaction of working with the young fellas and when they appreciate what you do it is even more satisfying,” he said.
“I just like the idea of coaching and working with a group of kids – and just to get them all together all going for the common cause which is what it’s all about.
“It’s satisfying each year I coach because I’ve said to the kids if they want me to coach you next year I will and if not I’ll find you someone else.
“I’ve been very lucky by the fact the kids have always wanted me to coach.”
Turner said an element of his success as a coach can be accredited to sitting in the change-rooms while his son played for Team GWS’s TAC Cup side this season.
“I go to Team GWS and sit in the rooms and learn from the best in Alan McConnell and Kevin Sheedy and listen to their talks and what they’re saying,” he said.
“I sneak in the back and sit down in the back corner and make mental notes.
“It’s brilliant really because the day you stop learning is the day you drop dead I think.
“You see the way other people do it and what the team and club rules are and that’s the thing that I enjoy – always getting better and being the first to think it.”
Westbrook president Andrew Meidler said Turner is a deserving recipient of the award.
“Andrew Turner is a classic example of a person who has dedicated his time and energy to develop junior AFL players both at club and representative levels,” Meidler said.
“His coaching ethos is to be your best for your team and yourself (in that order) and has instilled personal accountability with the players in his teams.”
