TATYOON - The Tatyoon Football Club hopes a new coaching line-up can guide the club to three consecutive Mininera and District Football League senior premierships.
Co-coaches Tony Campbell and Doug Walton will lead the Hawks' senior side during 2008 with the assistance of Andrew Ward.
All three come with premiership credentials and have a strong association with the club.
Campbell coached the club's reserves side to a grand final win over Hawkesdale Macarthur Eagles last season.
Walton coached the Hawks to a grand final in 2005 and a premiership in 2006 and has returned to the club after spending the 2007 season in the Wimmera Football League as senior coach of the Ararat Rats.
Tatyoon Football Club president Tim Fraser said the club was delighted to have the co-coaches on board for season 2008.
"They realised there's a big opportunity to create something special with three in a row, they decided they wanted to have a crack at it and we're absolutely rapt," Fraser said.
Ward spent much of the 2007 football season in England, working and playing cricket but the club was happy to welcome him back.
Fraser said signing someone with Ward's premiership experience as assistant coach was `tremendous' for the club.
"He's played in four premierships at Tatyoon, and having him back on board not only as a player but in a leadership role will be fantastic," Fraser said.
Last year's senior coaches Jason James and Richard King have stepped down from coaching but have indicated a desire to take on a leadership role.
Fraser said the club was looking at gaining a couple of high-profile players from outside of the Mininera league for the 2008 season.
There have been some changes to the Tatyoon line-up off the field too.
Treasurer Rob McKay and Ian McDougall, the club's long-standing secretary of 12 years, have stepped down from the committee.
"His input and involvement with the club, you can't speak highly enough of him for what he's done for the club over the years," Fraser said of McDougall.
Neil Robertson has filled the role of secretary, while Mick Watson will be treasurer for the 2008 season and Ian Armstrong club vice president.
Two new committee members, Zander McDougall and Andy Tucker, will hold general committee roles.
The Hawks will start pre-season training on January 17 on the club's newly revamped Tatyoon Oval.
"It's going to be a solid platform for the boys to train on and give them the best start to the season as possible," Fraser said.
For now, Fraser said the Hawks were working on striking a balance between keeping a level-headed approach and stepping up for the 2008 season.
"Obviously we've performed reasonably well and everyone's treating us as a yardstick," Fraser said.
"The boys have to step up a bit and try to keep a lid on things and we'll see how we go."
Despite attempts to `keep a lid on things', all in the Tatyoon community realise the potential glory the new football season holds for the Hawks.
After winning two premierships, a rare feat in any sport, the club have an incentive to claim three flags in a row.
"That's the driving force this year, they've got the opportunity to really do something quite spectacular and that's what the whole club and community in general are striving for," Fraser said.
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