In a proud moment for the Yass Magpies Senior Rugby League Club, local juniors Shaun Davis and Charlie Shepherd were recently awarded the Les McIntyre award for Reserve Grade Coach of the Year.
The recognition celebrates their hard work, dedication, and the flourishing team culture they have fostered. According to Club President Tim Clayton, the award is a testament to the pair’s long-standing commitment to the Magpies.
“Charlie and Shaun have been stalwarts at the club for many years. They are both local juniors who have progressed through the ranks,” he said.
The coaching partnership, initially an experiment, quickly became a winning formula. “Shaun, a first grader from last year, wanted to test his coaching skills. He and Charlie are good mates, and they thought it was a good combination, which turned out to be even better than they had hoped.”
Their success is built on more than just on-field strategy. Clayton praised their ability to manage the team and cultivate a positive environment.
“They foster a great culture within their playing group. They’ve got extended numbers, so that can take a bit of management as well. They do a good job on that,” he noted.
“They work really hard with them at training, and they develop their skills. We’ve had some of the younger guys come out of the 19s, which is the first year of senior footy, and it’s been an excellent experience for them playing amongst the men as well.”
This mix of experience and youth has been a key factor in the team’s achievements. “There’s a good mixture of youth and more senior players, and it’s gelled really well from them, and they should be really proud of their success because they put a lot of hard work in.”
The Reserve Grade team’s consistent performance is a strong indicator of the club’s future. The Magpies’ reserve side has been a perennial finals contender, and this award continues a recent trend for the club.
“They’ve sort of been up and around those finals spots. Last year they made the semis, the year before they made the semis and the year before they made the semis, so they’ve always been sort of strong in that era. Last year, we got coach of the year as well with Anthony Vitler, so for the last two years, we’ve got the reserve grade coach of the year, which is a credit to all those guys involved, and it’s a dif-ferent playing group as well. So it’s really good,” Clayton said.
For Clayton, the most encouraging aspect is the mentorship taking place within the team.
“The older guys are certainly very enthused, and the younger guys are learning from them and developing. So it’s working really well for us, but that reserve grade side has been in and around the semifinals for at least the last four years,” he said, highlighting the potential for future First Grade players.
“It is a good indicator for where we are heading. I think there are quite a few players in that reserve grade side that have the ability and potential to develop into good long-term first graders for us. So it is very pleasing to have that on the horizon, and we can see what’s coming through, and that’s a credit to the coaches, past and present.”
Clayton also spoke about the role of coaches in building a lasting club identity. “They have got a lot to add around the club because they’ve been around footy for a long time and have certainly been around the club a long time and they understand what’s required, but they also understand that it’s also about having a bit of fun and playing with your mates to a point, so they manage that and handle that really well.”
He acknowledged the challenges of being a regional club, noting that recruitment and retention can be difficult due to its location. However, he believes the right leadership can overcome these hurdles. “I think there is a good opportunity for coaches to come here and develop and sort of leave a bit of a mark on them.”
Reflecting on the recent departure of First Grade coach Luke Berkrey, Clayton expressed the club’s support for his decision to return to his hometown, while also emphasising the importance of coaching continuity. “I would certainly like a coach to be with us for two to three years because you need the continuity of a playing group so you can develop them on the way through,” he said, adding that the club is actively searching for a replacement.
Looking at the season’s performance, Clayton is proud of the Magpies’ competitiveness.
“The performances this year, we’ve really only had the one… blowout, where we weren’t competitive for a really long part of the game. And other than that, we have been competitive in games and put ourselves in a po-sition to win games, but just haven’t been able to get there.” He cited a memorable first half against a top team as a sign of their potential. “It was the best half of footy I have seen Yass play in quite a while.”
In a final note of pride, Clayton highlighted the club’s ability to field five different teams this year, a feat not even all the stronger clubs in Canberra can match. “Now, a little town of 6500 people, 15,000 in the shire, with the support of our community and our playing group, has been able to fulfil five sides,” he said, concluding with a nod to the vital role of the junior program and the need for continued collaboration.
– Tully Potts
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