FORMER Horsham Saint and AFL-listed utility Rory Taggert has a new job.
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The former Melbourne Demon has signed on as the North Warrnambool Eagles assistant coach in the Hampden Football Netball League.
Taggert, 22, spent two seasons at Melbourne after the Demons selected him at pick 36 in the 2011 national draft.
He was delisted without playing a senior game and moved to Adelaide to play for SANFL club Sturt.
Taggert hails from Horsham, as does Eagles forward Dylan Parish.
He will add another dimension to the Eagles’ line-up, which is striving for sixth straight top-five berth and a maiden grand final.
“Being from Horsham, I’d grown up hearing about how good the standard of the Hampden league is,” Taggert said.
“The club hasn’t quite gotten to a grand final and I look at it as being similar to my home team Horsham Saints.
“They finally got their first premiership this year but it took them a while to get there. I want to jump in and help the Eagles as much as I can.”
Taggert wants to impart the knowledge he’s gathered but is also eager to develop his coaching repertoire under Eagles mentors Graeme Twaddle and Brendan Murfett.
“With the playing group I aim to bring really good training standards and lead by example with the way I go about my footy – how to train, the right times to eat,” he said.
“The club will help me get better as well because I am still young and have a lot to learn.”
Taggert is earmarked for a midfield-forward role and is excited to work alongside ruckman Jordan Dillon, who was a couple of years above him at TAC Cup level.
He overcame injuries – finger and wrist problems – to play consistent football for Sturt in the second half of 2015.
Twaddle said the Hampden league club was thrilled to land Taggert.
“He’s still only 22 so that’s a pleasing thing and he’s a 188-centimetre onballer with plenty of experience,” he said.
