NSW Country appoint coach
Robbie Jackson has been appointed as the head coach of the NSW Country side to compete in the upcoming Landmark 2010 Australian Country Championships being held in Canberra from July 22 to 25.
Jackson has an impeccable football resume having played over 200 games for the Wagga Tigers as well as undertaking a number of coaching roles for Murray Bushrangers, the under-16 Southern NSW representative side and Wodonga Football Club, just to name a few.
The 34 year-old was also selected to play for NSW and the ACT in the same competition back in 2006.
Over 150 players will travel to Canberra for the event when the best country footballers from NSW, ACT, Victoria, South Australia, Western Australia and Queensland battle it out to win the championships for their state.
Joining Jackson in the coaching box will be Riverina Football League’s, Troy Maiden, and the decorated country footballer, Luke Carroll, who played in four carnivals and captained the side on two occasions.
“It’s certainly my highest achievement in terms of coaching is concerned. I’ve had a few other (coaching) roles but being a NSW boy and coming through the ranks through the Riverina league and the Canberra competition, this is very much my best coaching achievement,” Jackson said.
“Ever since I started playing the game I always had a desire to coach so the transition is not overly hard.”
With the NSW side having access to six AFL Sydney players and a selection of players from Queanbeyan, Jackson said the team is in a good position to return home with the trophy this year.
NSW last won the championships in 2002 and a combined team performance is the catalyst to getting the team over the line this time around.
“We need 25 guys that are willing to compete at the highest country level and if we’ve got 25 guys that are willing to do that then that’s not a bad place to start,” he said.
“Then we can hopefully mould the players into a good side that can get us into a position to play well and play for high honours when we get to the carnival.”
While coaching the NSW side at the championships is a high achievement, Jackson said he is hopeful this job is one of many as he strives to make a career in coaching.
“I want to go as far as I possibly can (with coaching), whether that’s involved in a TAC Cup club or involved in an AFL program somewhere.”
“This (appointment), in terms of my development as a coach, is very important and hopefully it can put me in good stead for the future.”
