Player development a focus for new Magpies senior coach Alan Smallwood in 2021 GSFL season

Well-known football identity Alan Smallwood will coach at his third Great Southern Football League club after being announced as Denmark-Walpole’s new league coach late last month. Smallwood takes the reins from co-coaches Ryan Gaerth and Simon Barker, who will keep playing for the Magpies. The Magpies approached Smallwood for the head coach position. He had just applied for a junior coaching job at another GSFL club but when he found out he was not in their plans, he went back and accepted the Magpies’ senior job. In his time as a league coach, Smallwood has won five premierships with Boxwood Hill from eight years in charge and guided Borden to two Ongerup Football Association premierships. Smallwood last coached in the GSFL in 2015, guiding Albany to their first-ever league win while he also took Railways to a grand final in 2006. With more than 15 years of experience in coaching, Smallwood is a major signing for the Magpies. “I love the game; I have been a football junkie my whole life and I love coaching,” he said. “Without being over-modest, I think I am actually a fairly good coach and help develop, a coach’s goal is to help develop players as footballers and individuals. “Every coach’s ultimate goal is to take their side to the next step but we are there to facilitate and guide them and give them the parameters but it’s up to the players and playing group as to how hard they want to challenge themselves and how far they want to go and how successful they are.” After falling short in the grand final last year to Royals, the Magpies will be looking to go one better this year. “There’s some really experienced footballers out in Denmark and the two coaches from last year have done a brilliant job,” he said. “I haven’t been a lot involved with the GSFL over the last few years, so it’s going to be a bit of a learning curve, to get to know the opposition, get to know your own players so there is a lot of learning to be done.” New Magpies president Tyrone Kennedy said the club was delighted with the appointment. “It’s a good opportunity for the club and a great appointment, the premiership experience was very appealing,” Kennedy said. “It’s great to get such an experienced person and see how far we can go.”