Burra draws in some new blood

By Brad Kingsbury
KEYSBOROUGH announced Frankston Dolphins assistant and reserves coach Brad Canavan as its new senior mentor on Monday, setting the club on a different path for 2010.
It is Canavan’s first senior appointment after an extended apprenticeship that included three seasons in the VFL with the Dolphins.
He replaces Greg Siwes whose three-year tenure at the Burra ended at the completion of the season after the 2008 runners-up missed the 2009 finals.
Canavan started his football at Chelsea Heights in the old South West Gippsland Football League as a 16 year old and moved on to play around 100 games in the MPNFL with Chelsea between 1993 and 2000, before persistent injury problems forced his retirement as a 27 year-old.
After a season off he assumed the role of chairman of selectors at Bonbeach in 2003 under former Hampton Park coach Jason Chapple and it was this experience that sparked his desire to coach.
“From the moment I was given the chance as chairman of selectors at Bonbeach I thought I could do this and had a passion for coaching,” he said. “I was head of recruiting and brought in guys like Scott Gilder, Kane Alexander and Peter Wenske. We had a great year and made the grand final.”
He assumed the role of reserves coach at Edithvale-Aspendale in 2005/06, finishing second in both years and was then appointed as development coach with Dandenong Stingrays under-14 and under-16 squads in 2006 before joining the Dolphins in 2007.
Canavan was a line coach under Brett Lovett in 2007, forwards coach in 2008 and also coached the club’s reserves to a preliminary final this season.
“My time at Frankston has topped it off. Working with blokes like Brett Lovett and Shannon Grant has been a real bonus,” he said.
The 35-year-old primary school teacher said he was excited by his appointment and keen to instill some pace into the Burra side.
“It’s been an eight year process and I feel I’m ready for this challenge now,” he said.
“This has always been a competition that has a good mix of skill and physicality but the influx of kids, especially those from the Stingrays, has added more pace and speed to sides.”
“I want to develop a blend of hard-bodied players along with some fresh legs and pace. That will be my aim,” he said.
Canavan’s runner at Frankston, Damien Grange, is likely to join him at Keysborough while other on and off field staff will be announced shortly.