Portarlington Football Club appoints new coach

PORTARLINGTON Football Club have appointed a new senior coach after going the entire season without a win.

Former Barwon Heads coach Peter O’Connor has been chosen to take the club forward.

Jamie Morgan has been coaching the team in a caretaker role since Jesse Smith’s mid-season departure and will now move into an assistant coach role.

The club has also appointed former AFL player Geoff Miles as football manager. Miles played for Geelong, West Coast and Collingwood in the AFL, and like O’Connor has also been in involved with Barwon Heads both as a player and in administrative roles.

Club president Linda Shaw said she is confident O’Connor and Miles would help improve the team’s fortunes.

“They both are very experienced football people. Peter has a number of years’ experience in coaching. Together they will be able to provide a steady team as we head into 2020.”

Miles was part of Barwon Heads’ 1993 premiership winning side, which until last month’s grand final was their last premiership winning side.

While it has been a much more difficult season for the Portarlington senior side, the club have had strong showings in the junior divisions.

Their Under 13 side particularly impressed, only losing the grand final to OGC Every by a single point.
Ms Shaw said she was pleased with how the junior sides were progressing.

“Our juniors are very strong at the moment and we’re very proud of that.

“It’s been a few years in the making, and certainly a lot of hard work has gone into developing the juniors, and we’re working towards having them playing seniors in years to come.”