Joel Price to take over at Hume league club Henty
Courtesy Border Morning Mail
HENTY has appointed Joel Price as coach.
After spending the past four seasons at the helm of rival club Howlong, Price has switched camps and will take over from Matt Klemke and Simon Hillier.
“I had probably planned to have a year off coaching when I sat down with Howlong mid-season,” Price said.
“I had four great years at the club, it was time for a new voice there and I thought I needed 12 months off as well.
“But after speaking to Henty recently I couldn’t be more excited to stay involved in coaching.
Price, who has played about 300 matches for Yarrawonga, North Adelaide, Ainslie, Wodonga Raiders, North Albury and Howlong, hopes to play for another one or two seasons.
The 34-year-old is confident the Swampies will retain their list with big forward Brent Ohlin the only confirmed departure.
“The club is really disappointed with how the season ended and my first job will be getting around the local guys and shoring up the list,” Price said.
“We might lose one or two, but I think things are positive on that front.
“The club had six or seven under-18 players in the side at one stage during the season so there is great scope for improvement.”
Klemke and Hillier had one season at the helm and took Henty from ninth to within striking distance of the double chance. It bowed out of the premiership race with a surprise loss to Rand-Walbundrie-Walla in the first week of finals at Walbundrie.
Howlong is yet to confirm its senior coach for next season but Wodonga Raiders assistant-coach Beau Packer has been linked to the position.
