From the Daley Oval to Piranha Park for Jamie Cassidy-McNamara

Old Trinity FC will be looking for a new coach in 2023 with Jamie Cassidy-McNamara moving on effective immediately to take up the role as the senior coach of the Coburg Lions in the VFL.

Cassidy-McNamara joined the T’s a little over 12 months ago as the club embarked on a new era after the club parted ways with Bernie Dinneen during the 2021 COVID-19 affected season.

While the T’s faced challenges on the field this year, with key injuries, a young group and a changing of the guard, his ability to have his side compete each week in William Buck Premier cannot be questioned. He will join Coburg as a highly regarded asset for the club.

Prior to his time at Old Trinity, Jamie spent six years at Collingwood FC where he held many roles across the club’s AFL and VFL coaching department, many of those spent working alongside Nathan Buckley, Robert Harvey, and others.

Jamie has also provided consultation from a training preparation and strategy point of view for Chelsea FC Academy in the English Premier League.

Nathan Buckley has been a key support person for Jamie and will continue to be a mentor, which will have major benefits in his role with Coburg.

This is an exciting opportunity for Cassidy-McNamara, and another building block in his coaching journey. He will be like the 10 Coburg VFL players who are from the VAFA in 2022 and will remain aligned with the T’s “I certainly won’t be abandoning Old Trinity, and will be around to continue to mentor the coaches and players.” he told VAFA Media.

“Like all the players at Coburg who have a home local club, Old Trinity is mine!” he continued

Old Trinity Grammarians President, Tony Mulcahy is fully supportive of the move from Jamie to Coburg, “we are completely behind Jamie in his drive and ambition to become the best coach at the highest level that he can attain, and we knew this would come at some stage, it’s a shame it’s a lot earlier than we hoped.”

“Nonetheless Jamie will stay on in a smaller role at the OT’s and will guide and mentor our new coaching staff in the process that he has already started. We will be announcing a new coaching panel shortly once final arrangements have been completed.”

Cassidy-McNamara has been in constant dialogue with both Coburg and Old Trinity throughout the process with the T’s and Jamie being very comfortable the club will be good hands when they start their assault to get back to A-Grade in 2023.

“I wouldn’t have accepted the Coburg job if I wasn’t super comfortable with the setup at Old Trinity moving forward. The goal is still the same, B-Grade Premiership and promotion.”

The VAFA and Old Trinity wish Jamie all the best in his new venture with Coburg, and will look forward to welcoming in the new coach of Old Trinity for the 2023 season when appointed.