Departing Millicent football coach Clint Gallio has returned to his home club of Mount Burr where his brilliance as a leader and footballer was first evident.
Gallio has taken up the coaching reins in succession to Reece Duncan who has relinquished the role and moved to an equivalent position at Glencoe.
The club has decided on the rest of the coaching panel and all have experience of playing in a green-and-gold jumper.
Reappointed are B Grade coach Rob Francis add junior colts coach Frazer Johnston.
Darren Dean will fulfil the dual role of senior assistant coach and senior colts coach.
Dean has three senior premierships to his credit (2x River Murray Football League and the Mount Burr A Grade flag in 2009) as well as coaching Millicent between 2009 and 2011.
The playing stocks of the Mozzies have been replenished with return of past players Taylor Redden and Jake Whitty and others are expected.
Gallio told The SE Voice that he had appreciated the warmth of his welcome back at ‘The Burr”.
“We had a meet-the-coaches function and we have had weekly training sessions since then,” Gallio said.
“Our training will step up after the break for Christmas.”
Gallio last played with the Mozzies seven years ago after the green-and-golds had won consecutive flags.
These two premiership medals added to the three he acquired from 2009-11.
His 149th and last game for Mount Burr was the 2016 grand final when he also collected the Stan Jones Memorial Medal as best on ground.
Gallio had an outstanding underage career with the Mozzies and won the 2008 Malseed Medal as the outstanding senior colt in the Mid South East Football League.
He made an immediate impact when he graduated to senior ranks in 2009 and won a further three league medals.
He won the Walker Medal in 2012 and 2013 and then took out the Mail Medal in 2014.
At the age of 32, representative honours still headed Gallio’s way last season as a Saint.
He was named at the best player for the South East zone team in the SA Country Championships in the Barossa Valley and this earned him selection in the SA Country team which played in Perth.
During his time as coach with the Western Border Saints, Gallio won four flags (2018 and 2021-23) and the league’s highest individual honour in 2021 the Brian Hennesey Memorial Medal.
He has also tried his hand at playing in Darwin over summer.
Mount Burr is currently in a rebuilding mode and finished the 2023 season in fifth place with eight wins and eight losses.
History is on Gallio’s side as Mount Burr has had 11 premiership coaches who claimed the ultimate prize in their first season at the helm.
They are the late Tony Hodgens (1959) the late Ron Carlson (1960), John Roberts (1969), Keith Baker (1976) Robert Halliday (1978) David Ey (1995) Adam Wiese (2000) Darren Dean (2009), Mark Kruger (2010), Frazer Scanlon (2015) and Tom Renzi (2016).
Most Mid SE club have decided on their coaches for 2024.
Robe has reappointed Nathan Brown for a further season while the other continuing coaches are Jack Dawe (Tantanoola), Cameron Sandercock (Kongorong) Shane Raymond (Nangwarry).and Josh Woodall (Port MacDonnell).
The only novice will be found at Hatherleigh who will be coached by senior player Tom Hutchesson.
No announcement has yet been made about Al Lyon who took Kalangadoo to the 2023 flag.
