Magpies welcome new head coach

ADAM Cross has taken on the senior coaching role at Dalyston Football Netball Club for 2027.

Cross is a familiar face in local football, having played for Inverloch-Kongwak for two decades and joining Dalyston’s veterans team this season.

A builder by trade, Cross has also worked in the health industry and is looking forward to bringing his experience and expertise to Dalyston.

“I’ve enjoyed the coaching side of that and felt like I’ve always been drawn to it. I’m exploring the potential of moving into that field a little more and exploring the life coaching avenue to see where that takes me,” he said.

“With that life coaching, I’d like to channel that into men’s mental health and wellbeing. I’ll be exploring that with further study in that field.

“When Dalyston advertised the position, I felt like it was something I always thought I’d end up doing.

“I really enjoyed my time at Inverloch coaching the under-18s, helping out with the reserves and assistant coaching in the seniors in 2011 with a great mate of mine. It’s always been something that I felt comes naturally to me, so now I’m at Dalyston I thought, why not?

“This is a great opportunity for me to step into that field and really work on developing some good relationships within the club.”

Dalyston has been a developing club for several years, building up its juniors to step into the senior sides to safeguard its future.

Cross acknowledged the team had faced its challenges through those years and hopes to offer some clarity and direction moving forward.

“There are a lot of great people at Dalyston who have got a lot of knowledge. I’ll be drawing on them with my coaching panel,” he said.

“I’ll have some good support behind me. The club has backed me right in. They’re really happy to help me with whatever I need to go forward.

“I’m really looking forward to navigating the challenges of being a senior head coach for a country football club, and to overcome them and set a really good standard.”

Cross played his first senior game with Inverloch-Kongwak in 2001 and never looked back.

He played every season until 2023 when a hand injury signalled his senior career was drawing to a close.

In that time he made lifelong friendships and earned lasting respect from members of the Inverloch-Kongwak Football Netball Club, a respect he returned in kind.

One of his greatest memories was winning the premiership in 2017, ending a long drought.

He captained the Sea Eagles for nearly 10 years and played more than 300 senior games, earning a life membership.

“The club instilled in me confidence to lead and navigate the team,” Cross said.

“For my whole adult life, I had known nothing but playing footy with Inverloch. That journey shaped and moulded me to where I am today and the person I am today. I am very thankful for them and what they were able to do for me.

“Now is a great opportunity for me to try to move forward and step into a coaching role and see if I can extend my football knowledge and repertoire of the game.”

With the 2026 season over, Cross has started recruitment talks and discussions with current players.

He officially takes over the role at the end of this month and will be ready to launch into pre-season.

“Every day will be a learning experience for me because it’s something I’ve never done before. I haven’t actually had the last say in a group setting such as a football team,” Cross said.

“I guess I’ll live and die by the sword, right? It’s going to be that sort of atmosphere in a high-stress environment.

“I’m really excited for the challenges and gaining knowledge from it. I don’t like to leave things to chance or not do my research. I did it as a player and it’s something I really enjoy. Now I have access to premier data and I’m already all over it.”

Cross is planning to take Dalyston on a two-to-three-year journey and already has his goals mapped out for year one.

“I’d love to get off the bottom of the ladder. I’d love to recruit some really great role models for the young kids at the club who need a bit of guidance,” he said.

“Dalyston has some really good juniors, which is an encouraging space to be in. I want to aim to get those people to the club so they can bring these kids through and give them the confidence to be themselves and develop their football in a really safe and supportive environment.

“I’d also love to retain the playing group as best I can. Right now, they have a great bunch of kids and a great bunch of blokes, and I’d love for them to commit to what I’m going to lay out and be the reason they climb back into that competitive space.

“The goal for year one is to lay down those foundations and get a bit of excitement going.”

Inverloch-Kongwak’s season ended in the preliminary final, beaten by Phillip Island at Cora Lynn.