Ex-Bombers' coach to take up development role at TigerlandGreg Denham
The Australian
Friday, 1st April, 2011Former Essendon coach Matthew Knights has accepted the role as head development coach at Richmond.
Over the past month Knights has been reacquainting himself with his former club thanks to his close friendship with former teammate and current Richmond CEO Brendon Gale including attending the recent black-tie gala at the new state of the art ME Bank Centre as part of the club's Fighting Tiger Fund which raised in excess of $2 million on the night. Ironically it is these additional funds which will now enable the Tigers to hire Knights in his new role.
Richmond President Gary March was delighted with the appointment.
"Knighter was champion of the club and it is a fantastic to have him back in an official capacity. It has been our plan for a long time now to expand our player development resources which is such a crucial part of footy these days especially with our young developing list. Matthew has strong credentials and expertise in this area as shown by his excellent work with the younger players at Essendon. Thus we felt he was the ideal candidate for this important position."
Knights began his AFL career in 1988 with Tigers as a 17 year old and went onto win two best-and-fairests and eventually captain the club in a career spanning 16 years. He then moved into coaching with the Port Adelaide Magpies in the SANFL before crossing to Essendon's VFL affiliate Bendigo Bombers where he won high praise from those at Windy Hill for his work with the younger Bombers there. After legendary coach Kevin Sheedy's sacking, Knights was appointed senior coach at Essendon ahead of former Bomber premiership player and current Richmond coach Damien Hardwick. After three years in the job including a finals appearance in 2009, Knights was himself controversially sacked late last season in a coaching coup which saw the return of champion James Hird and former Geelong coach Mark Thompson to Bomberland.
Knights will not take up his new role at Punt Road until next week but he will be in attendance at Richmond's VFL affiliate side Coburg's first game of the season tomorrow afternoon at Sandringham.
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/sport/matthew-knights-to-take-up-development-role-at-tigerland/story-e6frg7mf-1226031625269