Coleambally snare Mitch Carroll

By James Matthey

Coleambally Football Club have Mitch Carroll’s partner to thank for luring the talented midfielder to the club for the 2013 season.

Carroll’s decision to make the move from Ganmain-Grong Grong-Matong (GGGM), the club where he made his name in Riverina football, was motivated by his partner’s desire to be closer to her family.

“My partner’s family is from out this way so that was the main reason I decided to come out here,” said Carroll.

“It was mainly because my partner’s family is here, it wasn’t really for football reasons, that didn’t have much to do with it.”

Carroll brings an impressive resume with him to the club, leading GGGM to premiership glory as their coach in 2011.

Having grown up in Ganmain and played all of his junior football there, Carroll said it was initially a tough decision to make the move to Coleambally, but has enjoyed being part of a new environment.

“Yeh it was tough because I had to leave all my junior football mates and a few other good friends, so it wasn’t an easy decision to make.

“The biggest thing has probably been just being in a different place, getting used to a few things that are done differently and getting used to a different way of going about your footy.

“I suppose you get to play with a different bunch of guys and play a different brand of footy so it’s still been alright even though we haven’t been very successful so far, but it’s still a good experience to play with a few different fellas.”

The hard work put in by everyone involved with the club has impressed Carroll, who said that the off-field structure was just as important as the on-field action.

“Behind the scenes, the whole town is really into it and on game day there’s never anyone just standing around, it’s really well run off the ground.

“Everyone gets in and gives a hand no matter what they’ve got to do, that’s probably the main thing that really stands out.

“Everyone gets together on Saturday and does their best to get all the players on the ground and keep them looked after.”

Carroll’s recruitment has been a major coup for Coleambally, and club President, Shane Mannes, praised his professionalism.

“He’s been great, it’s massive for the club,” said Mannes.

“He’s added good leadership, coming from a professional club he knows what needs to be done to be successful and that’s what we’re after.

“He’s fitted in very well.

“We hope he can guide us towards the finals, that would be good, we’re still a chance so we’re hoping so.”

Carroll believes that being relieved of the burden of coaching has helped him to enjoy his footy a lot more this year, but is adamant that his own form still has room for improvement.

“Not coaching this year has been good, I’ve been able to stand back and listen to other blokes…you only have to worry about what you’ve got to do when you get out on the ground.

“It does help because you’re not worrying about trying to watch the footy as well as playing your own game, you can just go out there and do what your role is, what the coach wants you to do so it helps a lot.

“You can turn up on Saturday and not have to worry about moves and plays and that sort of stuff which is good.

“Personally my form hasn’t been that good the last month or so, earlier in the year I think it was better but hopefully things can improve a little bit.”

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