AFL RIVERINA TV – Gavin McMahon & Lew Roberts

Coaching… whether you do it from the sidelines or on the field, it has its challenges.

This week on AFL Riverina TV, East Wagga-Kooringal mentor Gavin McMahon and Coolamon coach Lew Roberts said 2014 has been a learning experience, for different reasons.

After Coolamon’s RFL premiership victory last year, Roberts took over from Matt Hard as playing coach. “In the first few weeks I probably struggled with that a little bit, just trying to find that balance between coaching and playing… [now] I trust my bench. I’ve handed over the reins. Once it gets to game day, I just concentrate on playing, and get some feedback from those guys at quarter-time and halftime.”

McMahon doesn’t have to worry about his own game. “Initially it’s probably more about how you try and gain respect amongst the group. As Lew would know, sometimes you can deliver a message – you can go out and actually action that yourself on the field. So as a non-playing coach, you’ve got to find different ways to build respect within the group, get the trust, so that hopefully they can follow your message later on.”

Both are happy with how their teams are travelling midway through the season, but say the RFL and Farrer League are wide open.

For more on who they’ve been impressed by, and why, check out Coaches Corner on AFL Riverina TV.