https://www.facebook.com/445420805330030/

Springhall Coaching

Home
Australia
Strathalbyn, SA
Springhall Coaching

Contact the school

Working with Australian Rules players, coaches, teams and clubs at all levels to improve their on and off field performances and results.

01/08/2026

Bronze 🥉

What a week of football in Melbourne with the South Australian U/14 Boys team.

We opened the championships with a heartbreaking 4-point loss to Western Australia before responding with strong wins over Queensland and Victoria White to earn a semi-final showdown with Victoria Navy. Unfortunately, we fell short, but the boys responded brilliantly to finish the carnival with a convincing win over NSW and bring home the bronze medal.

It’s been a week full of learning, growth and development. I had the privilege of working with some of the most talented young footballers I’ve come across, meeting incredible families, building lasting connections, and sharing the journey with an outstanding coaching group for the third straight year.

One of the real highlights away from the games was getting a behind-the-scenes look at both the Essendon and Western Bulldogs Football Clubs. Seeing firsthand the work, planning and attention to detail that goes into running an AFL club was incredible and gave me plenty to take away.

The School Sport Australia officials’ dinner was another memorable experience. It was fantastic to connect with colleagues from right around Australia across eight different sports, hear from AFL great Jason Dunstall, and to be recognised with my 5-Year School Sport Australia Service Pin.

On a personal level, this carnival challenged me more than any before. Stepping into the head coaching role pushed me well outside my comfort zone, and while reflecting on the week I can already see plenty of areas where I can continue to improve.

Growth only comes from being uncomfortable, and I’m proud that I embraced the challenge. I’m grateful to everyone who supported me in the lead up and throughout the week, especially my wife and family who continue to support me in following my passion and being the best coach I can be.

Congratulations to all of the players and staff on a fantastic championships. The future of South Australian football is in very good hands.

Bring on the next challenge.

18/07/2026

Well done to my man Sammy Smithson on his selection in the Australian BMX side.

A supremely talented individual, it’s been an honour to see the hours he puts in behind the scenes to reach his goals and realise his dreams.

Good luck buddy.

03/07/2026

Feeling incredibly grateful to have been nominated for both the AFL School Teacher of the Year and the NAB AFL Auskick Coach of the Year awards.

A huge thank you to everyone who nominated me. I firmly believe that quality coaching and opportunities at the grassroots level can have a lasting impact on young people, and it’s a privilege to play a small part in that journey.

I’ve absolutely loved my football journey throughout 2026 and am excited for what’s still to come.

🏉 Norwood U/14 Program ✅
🏉 Port Adelaide U/14 NGA Academy ✅
🏉 Strathalbyn Football Club Auskick Coordinator ✅
🏉 GSFL A Grade Association Team Assistant Coach ✅
🏉 Strathalbyn Football Club A Grade Assistant Coach
🏉 South Australian U/14 Boys State Team

Looking forward to continuing to learn, grow and give back to the game.

10/06/2026

A great day spent representing the Great Southern Football League.

Over the past week, I’ve found myself reflecting on my journey in representative football. From pulling on the jumper for the first time in 2004 as a junior player, to coaching the U15s and A Grade Women, and now assisting with the A Grade Men in 2026, every opportunity has been an incredible experience.

Representative football has given me the chance to meet great people, work alongside passionate and knowledgeable coaches and players, and continue learning and growing along the way.

The weekend marked my ninth time pulling on the blue, white and red. It’s a privilege I never take for granted, and one I hope isn’t the last.

💙🤍❤️

01/06/2026

First training session done and dusted with the State U14 Boys yesterday.

It was a fantastic session, combining presentations on our game style, team structures and role responsibilities, followed by an on-field training session designed to bring those concepts to life.

This is a highly talented group with the potential to develop into an outstanding team.

Every training session is an opportunity to connect, learn, improve and take another step towards achieving our goals together.

30/12/2025

Some of the Riverland’s finest.

I’m currently holidaying with my family up in Barmera on Lake Bonney and put some feelers out to a couple of lads who I have worked with in the State School Boys U/15 side over the past couple of years.

Was amazing to work with Mitch Johnson and Sammy DePalma again, plus local lad Harry Banks who captained West Adelaide’s U/16’s to a premiership this year and South Adelaide SANFLW Premiership player Marley Tape who is also holidaying up here.

A solid session focussing on touch, skill development and finished with some footy specific running.

Four absolute stars!

Huge thanks to the Barmera Footy Club for letting us use a couple of footies. A great country club who are the team to beat in the Riverland Footy League.

26/10/2025

Good luck to these three legends who are off to represent their District in the SAPSASA Girls State Football Carnival this week.

Despite the wind it was great to see these ladies working hard to give themselves the chance to get some skill work and ‘touch’ in before games kick off tomorrow.

16/09/2025

Had the pleasure of coaching these incredible year 5/6 boys this season.

The boys took out the Southern Fleurieu Carnival earlier in the year winning all 5 games in emphatic fashion.

Moving into the State Knockout Rounds and carrying some significant injuries to key personnel I was so proud at the way the boys stuck with it, defeating another 5 schools to be crowned State Champions.

As a group we spoke before each game about trust, impact and simple brilliance.

Trust: Do the boys trust me to make the calls, changes and decisions that will enable the TEAM to succeed, even if it means certain players need to do certain jobs, spend a quarter on the bench, or play a new position.

Impact: Making sure every player made an impact on the game. Whether it be a player just coming in to the ground from the bench, or a player standing up in the moment and taking their chance.

Simple Brilliance: It’s the little things in the big moments we wanted to get right. Whether it’s picking up a ground ball cleanly, or hitting a target, if we got the simple things right, the game steadily flows our way.

Today’s grand final my opening message was to not focus on what happens after the final siren, it could be good or it could be bad. We wanted to only focus on the moments in front of us.

As a player, and as a coach you can easily get lost in “Imagine if we win” or “Losing will be hard” so to just focus on the next play, the next time the player is involved helped us stay in the moment.

For the first time this season we were really tested, giving up a 20 point half time lead to only be in front by 1 point at 3/4 time.

We spoke about what it would take. We drilled down on trust. Was it there, were we willing to do exactly what was needed of us regardless of the role? We spoke about impact, and how everyone had their job to do. We needed leaders to stand up, we needed our defenders to lock in and our midfielders to become more accountable. Finally the simple brilliance, it’s hard when you don’t train together to make drastic changes during a game, so we just kept it simple, keep the ball rolling our way, compete in the air and have a crack.

The result?

Six unanswered goals!!

10/09/2025

Couple of legends cleaning up on awards night!

Best and Fairest
Best and Fairest Runner Up + Best Finals Player.

Two lads who I have had the pleasure of working with consistently over the past couple of seasons.

Huddo oozes X-Factor. He possesses game changing ability and can hurt opposing teams in in so many different ways. He has great attack on the ball and hits the contests hard. I liken him to an Isaac Heeney.

Sammy is all class, an absolute work horse who runs hard both ways. An elite user of the ball, he can change lanes and hit the kicks others wouldn’t dare to attempt. Very much a Jordan Dawson type operator.

Exciting things to come from these two.

23/04/2025

Lots of fun tonight out at the Goolwa / Port Elliot Football Club with the U/14 Girls team. The girls are coached by Ellie Fry who I was lucky enough to coach for a season back in 2018 at Strathalbyn 🏆

An energetic group of girls who had me laughing regularly. I was really impressed with their fundamental skills and look forward to seeing them play throughout the year.

Great work team.

Address

Strathalbyn, SA
5255

Website

facebook.com

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Springhall Coaching posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The School

Send a message to Springhall Coaching:

Want your school to be the top-listed school/college in Strathalbyn?