Holwell & McDowell to lead Raiders in 2018

12 Mar Holwell & McDowell to lead Raiders in 2018

GDFL president Neville Whitley OAM has confirmed the appointment of Reece Holwell and Mark McDowell as co-coaches of the Raiders’ senior interleague campaign in 2018.

The pair worked together as assistants under Jeremy Power (now East Geelong’s senior coach) in last year’s four point AFL Victoria community championship triumph over the NCFL at Wedderburn.

“These two bring dedication to our league each week and they both have enough interleague experience when preparing for Heathcote DFL in the upcoming months,” Whitley said.

McDowell guided Inverleigh to its first senior grand final in 25 years last year.

Since crossing from Corio in 2014 the former Geelong West VFA star has captured a complimentary 66-19 winning record with the Hawks.

“He’s coached Inverleigh for four years and been named the league’s coach of the year for three of those seasons (2014, 2016 & 2017) so we’re confident about our decision.”

Holwell meanwhile entered the competition from a successful Bellarine FL career with Drysdale at the start of 2015.

That year he would transform his inherited reigning wooden spoon side Thomson to a finals contender before eventually finishing fourth in the following two finals series (2016-17).

The playing coach went a step further in the last two years, starring for the Raiders’ in their respective interleague wins before finishing runner up in last year’s Whitley medal count.

Holwell was the equal highest possession collector against the NCFL last year alongside eventual Daryl Jones medallist Michael Best (Inverleigh) with 28 disposals each.

The Raiders will return home for the first time since 2014 when hosting Heathcote DFL at North Geelong on May 18.

Last Match

Final Scores: GDFL 15.1 (91) defeated NCFL 13.9 (87)

2017 GDFL Interleague Stats

Best: M. Best, K. Fulton, S. Jacka, J. Brauman, P. Dwyer, J. Ettridge.
Goals: K. Fulton 3, J. Ettridge 3, R. Logue 2, M. Grozdanovski 2, A. Brown 2, D. Grundell, R. Holwell, J. Brauman.
Disposals: M. Best 28, R.Holwell 28, J.Brauman 27, M. Grozdanovski 24, L. Parker 24, S. Jacka 22, T. Rabbas 20.
Marks: S. Jacka 12, K. Fulton 7, D. Grundell 6, J. Ettridge 5, J. Brauman 5, M. Best 4, J. White 4.

By Alex Tigani
GDFL Media (12/03/2018)