From the 'Moreland Leader'
by Brad Bishop.
COBURG Tigers Football Club completed its 2004
recruiting with a bang earlier this month, signing
former Essendon and Sydney Swans ruckman Ryan
O'Connor for the VFL season.
The 29-year-old has signed on as a playing assistant
coach at Harding St, where he will work alongside
former Bombers teammate David Flood, who is in his
first year as coach of the Tigers.
"Initially he (O'Connor) made contact with David
Wheadon from Richmond, letting him know that he
was coming back to Melbourne, and I played with
Ryan at Essendon a few years ago so I suppose that
was where the connection was and helped get us over
the line in getting him to play for us," Flood said.
"He's not only going to be a player for us but he's also
going to occupy a ruck-coaching role with the younger
guys we've got.
"It's a two-fold role that he's taking on and at 28 or 29
years of age we expect he'll be a terrific acquisition for
the club."
O'Connor comes to the Tigers after a decorated three-
year career in Adelaide. He won the SANFL's top
individual honour, the Magery Medal, while playing for
Port Adelaide in 2001 and spent last year playing for
North Adelaide.
Prior to his South Australian stint, O'Connor played for
Essendon and Sydney between 1994-2000 racking up
87 games.
Flood said O'Connor should be at the peak of his powers.
"I'm sure he would like to have three or four years left
and only time will tell in that regard, but I would expect
that he'll be a really good player for us for two years
at least," he said.
Tigers fans have the chance to catch their first glimpse of
O'Connor in a Coburg jumper on Friday, when he joins
his teammates in a practice match against VFL rival
Northern Bullants.
Coburg also has matches tenatively set down for
February 27 (intra-club), March 14 (Sandringham),
March 21 (Bendigo Bombers) and Williamstown
(March 27), but Flood said the intra-club game
and the Bendigo game where yet to be confirmed.
Along with the on-field appointments, Flood also
confirmed the Tigers recently made some off-field
signings.
Leading the way was former Geelong and Collingwood
player Carl Steinfort, who has joined the club his
brother Paddy has captained, as reserves coach.
Ex-Fitzroy rover Jimmy Wynd and Coburg Legend Vin
Taranto, who have taken on assistant coaching
positions, will join Steinfort at Coburg City Oval.
by Brad Bishop.
COBURG Tigers Football Club completed its 2004
recruiting with a bang earlier this month, signing
former Essendon and Sydney Swans ruckman Ryan
O'Connor for the VFL season.
The 29-year-old has signed on as a playing assistant
coach at Harding St, where he will work alongside
former Bombers teammate David Flood, who is in his
first year as coach of the Tigers.
"Initially he (O'Connor) made contact with David
Wheadon from Richmond, letting him know that he
was coming back to Melbourne, and I played with
Ryan at Essendon a few years ago so I suppose that
was where the connection was and helped get us over
the line in getting him to play for us," Flood said.
"He's not only going to be a player for us but he's also
going to occupy a ruck-coaching role with the younger
guys we've got.
"It's a two-fold role that he's taking on and at 28 or 29
years of age we expect he'll be a terrific acquisition for
the club."
O'Connor comes to the Tigers after a decorated three-
year career in Adelaide. He won the SANFL's top
individual honour, the Magery Medal, while playing for
Port Adelaide in 2001 and spent last year playing for
North Adelaide.
Prior to his South Australian stint, O'Connor played for
Essendon and Sydney between 1994-2000 racking up
87 games.
Flood said O'Connor should be at the peak of his powers.
"I'm sure he would like to have three or four years left
and only time will tell in that regard, but I would expect
that he'll be a really good player for us for two years
at least," he said.
Tigers fans have the chance to catch their first glimpse of
O'Connor in a Coburg jumper on Friday, when he joins
his teammates in a practice match against VFL rival
Northern Bullants.
Coburg also has matches tenatively set down for
February 27 (intra-club), March 14 (Sandringham),
March 21 (Bendigo Bombers) and Williamstown
(March 27), but Flood said the intra-club game
and the Bendigo game where yet to be confirmed.
Along with the on-field appointments, Flood also
confirmed the Tigers recently made some off-field
signings.
Leading the way was former Geelong and Collingwood
player Carl Steinfort, who has joined the club his
brother Paddy has captained, as reserves coach.
Ex-Fitzroy rover Jimmy Wynd and Coburg Legend Vin
Taranto, who have taken on assistant coaching
positions, will join Steinfort at Coburg City Oval.
