Wayne Cripps has joined the GIANTS to lead the VFL program and work as a development coach in the AFL.
Cripps has worked with some of the best junior talent in the country, working most recently as the head coach of the Sandringham Dragons in the NAB League.
This year he led the Dragons to a Premiership and worked with the likes of potential top-five draftees Will Ashcroft and Harry Sheezel.
He was previously an assistant coach at the Oakleigh Chargers working with emerging AFL stars Matt Rowell, Noah Anderson and Will Phillips.
A stalwart of East Burwood in the Eastern League in Victoria, Cripps played 298 games for the Rams.
GIANTS General Manager of Football, Jason McCartney, welcomed Cripps to the club.
“We’re delighted to welcome Wayne to the club to coach our VFL team and work under new Head of Development Robbie Chancellor,” he said.
“We had a strong field of candidates for this role and Wayne stood out with his focus on professionalism and development.
“He also brings a unique ability to run a program which brings together different players on a week-to-week basis which will ensure a seamless transition to running our VFL program, which operates in a very similar vein.
“Wayne’s appointment finalises a new-look coaching group for the GIANTS in 2023 under new head coach Adam Kingsley and we’re looking forward to getting started again in late November as we look ahead to the 2023 season.”
Kingsley leads a coaching group including new faces Brett Montgomery, Ben Hart and Jeremy Laidler with Craig Jennings continuing in his assistant role. Shane Mumford will continue as part-time ruck coach while Chancellor will lead the development space alongside Cripps and development coach Alicia Eva.
