By JARROD POTTER
BUILDING Lightning culture from the ground up enticed Paddy Cooke to sign on with Lyndhurst FNC.
The newest Southern FNL senior club, launched by South East Juniors’ club Lyndhurst JFC, will have a first-time senior coach at the helm with Cooke, who is keen to develop the Lightning standard.
With a clean slate and keen committee ready to launch the senior side, Cooke wants the club to start on the right note and set itself up properly.
“Basically, that it was a start-up club, there’s no baggage with it – everything that happens is completely on our own backs, so whatever we do is our development,” Cooke said. “Culture is where it has to start – we have to build something that people want to be around – and success will follow that.
“You can’t just go out and chase players; you’ve got to build an environment that’s sustainable.”
Cooke, a former Skye premiership player and member of their Team of the Decade, hasn’t decided whether he’ll don the orange and blue, as it’s something Cooke would hope he doesn’t have to do.
“I retired two years ago but that said, with a start-up club and if they need the leadership – following structures with the voice on field – then I will, but ideally no,” Cooke said. “My best footy is well and truly behind me and I have to get back into playing shape, but injuries killed me towards the end and I couldn’t keep up with it.”
He’ll leave the playing duties to the new look squad which will hopefully in time fill up with Lyndhurst’s juniors.
“We want to bridge the gap so it’s a natural progression where the juniors can step straight up,” Cooke said. “We’ve got under-17s for next year, but they’re bottom -age, and if any of those players are good enough they’ll step straight in.
“We’ll be working with them thoroughly, so they can step straight up with us and we’ll have them training with us as often as possible.”
Lyndhurst will play its first SFNL clash against Hallam in a cross-town showdown on 9 April at Marriott Waters Reserve.
The club has been training since last month but is still on the hunt for recruits – if anyone is interested they can contact Lyndhurst via www.lnfc.com.au.
