By NOEL MURPHY
THE HAND that rocks the cradle at Newcomb is now drop-punting Sherrins and putting young footballers through their training and game-day paces.
It’s the changing face of Aussie rules and, if all goes to plan, young players will soon take more from the ground than just old-style goals, glory and gauze.
Martine Jennings, one of a new breed of junior footy coach, said respect, fair play, teamwork and discipline were some of the benefits to come from investing mums with the job of football overseers.
Together with fellow coach Kate Brady, not to forget male offsider Aaaron Chinn, she heads up Mums Monday night every week for Newcomb Power’s under-10 footy fledglings.
It’s all part of a strong community focus at the club that starts from the ground up.
And as might be expected with mums at the helm, swearing and bad behaviour’s out and backing mates and playing role model to the youngsters is in.
“I think we bring discipline to the team,” Martine said.
“We have a big anti-bullying policy but we’re also quite tough, we don’t put up with any nonsense. It’s no foul language, no swearing, keep your hands and feet to yourselves or we’ll pull them out of training for five minutes.
“It’s the same when they play. If they talk back to the umpires or behave inappropriately, we’ll drag them – even if it means we’re down on players.
“I have the same expectations of my son as of all boys. It’s about showing respect, teaching them about other things on the field.
“We want to raise players who play fairly – good players and good men.”
The club’s backing the change with barbecues, free meals after training, getting kids into the seniors rooms to hear coaches at work, a buddy system to train with senior players, coaching clinics at schools, picking up youngsters who need lifts and more, Martine said.
The changes are being felt right through the club’s junior ranks from under-10s to under-18s – and it’s paying dividends.
“We’ve only had a couple of wins but we had so many losses to get those wins was great for their self-confidence,” Martine said.
“They all give it a red hot go each week, they run as a team, they encourage others, do the little things and the team building. It’s really important.
“We want to be good role models for them but because we’re mums sometimes they think we can’t kick. But the other night I kicked the ball and one kid said, ‘I’d pay $1000 to kick like that’, so I can kick, I do all right.”
And she can barrack, too. Martine’s no shrinking violet when it comes to offering support from the sidelines.
“I’m the loudest one out there,” she says.
“I’m a foghorn running the boundary on game day.”
