Roy Prasad
He has been a success at the youth level but Michael Lovett will be stepping into unfamiliar territory at Mudgee next week.
Lovett is the head coach of the Australian mixed opens touch football team.
But despite coaching Australia in the past, this is his first time in charge of an opens team.
He will be making his opens head coaching debut at Glen Willow when the Trans-Tasman Touch Football series is played from April 26.
“It will be a challenge for me,” Lovett said.
“I’ve coached the men’s 20s and the women’s open assistant coach.
“At the end of the day, I’ll put a structure out for the team. I can’t deliver it, the players do that.”
Lovett was successful in the junior ranks, coaching the men’s 20s to the 2009 Youth Trans-Tasman series.
He said he was pretty happy with the side selected.
“I’m pretty confident we can win,” he said.
“I’ve got a strong background in team structure and we play a structured level of touch.”
Lovett, who was born and raised in Orange, said the team has a good balance of youth and veterans.
Despite having the large amount of debutants between the Australian teams, Lovett said his side would get the job done.
“We’ve got some very talented players,” he said.
“Sarah Peattie, I thought was unlucky not to make the women’s side. Peter Watkins is one of our dynamic players.
“Roy Prasad is a dominant player. He is a very exciting player who barks the orders on the field.”
The team also includes twin sisters from Toowoomba, Gemma and Nikki Etheridge.
“It’s not unusual for that to happened. I’ve coached many teams with siblings in it.
“Touch is an unique sport where you can play alongside your family and friends. In Nikki’s and Gemma’s case they came through the ranks together and have done exceptionally well.”
The three Australian teams will head into a camp this weekend before arriving in Mudgee on Tuesday.
AUSTRALIAN MIXED: Cameron Nicholls, Trent Touma, Peter Watkins, Michael Chapman, Michael Singh, Michael Law, Jamie Chan, Sebe Rey, Dylan Thompson, Roy Prasad, Nikki Etheridge, Gemma Etheridge, Kylie Hilder, Sarah Spacie, Sarah Peattie, Kristy Brennan. Coach: Michael Lovett, assistant coach: Manu Wakely, manager: Mathew Gilbertson.
