Matt James is likely to be the youngest outright senior coach in the Central Highlands Football League next season.
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The 25-year-old has been locked in to take over the reins from Grant Luscombe in 2018.
Newlyn’s Dan Wehrung is the youngest of the league’s current senior coaches at just 24, but shares the role alongside Chris Dwyer.
James told The Courier he plans on serving as coach from the sidelines, with a shocking run of injuries severely hampering his playing career.
The former Redan footballer, who joined Waubra ahead of its 2015 campaign, said serious ankle, foot and knee issues have seen him move towards coaching as a way to stay in the game.
James injured his anterior cruciate ligament late last season and hasn’t played a game this year.
“If the body was perfect, I’d be playing and not coaching, but basically the only reason I’m coaching is because my body is shot and not much good,” James said.
“I guess that’s the cards that are dealt sometimes. In an ideal world I’d be playing on a Saturday, but this is a good second best at this stage.”
James spent two seasons as the under-18 coach at Waubra before taking on an assistant role to Luscombe this year.
Luscombe announced earlier this month that he would be standing down at season’s end.
James said he was thankful for the opportunity to take charge at Waubra with a list that is competitive at the top end of the competition.
And he said a large part of the senior squad had shown a desire to stay with the Roos in 2018.
“The club’s really good to me so I’ll bring my best and have a red-hot crack at seeing how we can go,” he said.
James took charge of the senior team in round 13 against Skipton when Luscombe was absent due to the birth of his third child.
The Roos won the match by a whopping 259 points.
Luscombe cited a busy work and private life for his decision to stand down from the helm, which he will do at the end of his third season in charge.
He served as Waubra reserves coach and also assistant to former senior coaches Shane Skontra and Jason Allen before being appointed to the top position for the 2015 season.
The Roos are currently seventh on the ladder and take on Carngham-Linton on Saturday.