Tara Murray
Laverton will have co-coaches for next year’s Western Football League division 2 season as it aims to continue to take the next step.
Tony Jofre, who has been coach since 2022, will continue on coaching the Magpies but he will have some more assistance this season.
Nick Waddell will join him as a co-coach.
Waddell’s resume is extensive and he’s been involved in the league for a number of years.
He started at Point Cook in 2004 coaching for four seasons where it made three grand finals before he moved across to Altona to coach under-18s.
Waddell made at least the preliminary final in all four years.
He spent three seasons at the Western Jets as the backline development coach, before being the inaugural coach of the now-Point Cook Centrals.
Waddell then returned to Point Cook and took the under-18s to two division 1 premierships.
Jofre said it was exciting to have Waddell step in and help him coach the side.
“We’re always learning and it’s always good to have a mentor,” he said. “Coaches always need mentors as well.
“Nick is fantastic. He’s a great person and his son played a few games with us last season and he’s got a wealth of experience.
“He’s best suited to help carry on what we’re trying to do at Laverton.”
Jofre said there’s only so much one person can do as a coach, so to have someone like that step in helps build things a lot bigger and stronger.
Jeff Magee and life member Dejan Samoukovic will be assistant coaches, while Daniel Rainbow will be the reserves coach.
Jofre said it’s exciting that more people want to get on board and try and help them out.
“It’s good to have a lot of hands helping out,” he said. “It means that we are growing and we’re growing in the right direction.
“More people wanting to help and get involved in football again, which is great.”
The Magpies finished this season in 10th spot with six wins. It’s the most wins they’ve had in a season in 2011 when they won seven games.
Jofre said they were excited to keep building on what they’ve been doing.
“We’ve come a long way since I first started at the club,” he said. “It has built gradually and it’s gotten better and better.
“It’s been more positive each year and next year, we’re 101 years old next year. Let’s see what we can do at Laverton.”
Jofre said in the off season they would keep building and look to add some more players to the club, including through recruiting.
He said they were a family club and wanted all people from the area to want to be a part of the club.
“It’s an exciting year ahead and we welcome anyone to come along for the ride.”
