Ex-Demon Daniel Ward announced as Sandringham VFL coach after split with St Kilda

Ward, 48, was locked in today, selected from what club CEO Mark Wheeler had described as an excellent field of candidates.

Ward played 136 games for Melbourne between 1997 and 2007, and more recently has coached with distinction in the Victorian Amateur Football Association.

He is Old Haileybury’s longest-serving coach, having been with the Bloods since 2017. Ward guided them to one Premier C and two Premier B flags, and this year they finished fifth in the top division, Premier.

As a Melbourne player, Ward was best-afield in the Mark “Wilbur’’ Williams-coached Sandringham 2005 premiership team.

Williams was involved in the appointment of Ward, with club president Nick Johnstone and Wheeler forming a panel to pick the new coach.

The Zebras have ended their alignment with St Kilda and will operate under their own steam for the first time since 1999.

After finishing up at Melbourne, Ward had a stint at SANFL club North Adelaide, coached Mallee Eagles and had charge of Monbulk for four years. Old Haileybury was his next stop, and he achieved much success and gained great respect in amateur ranks.

“Following a rigorous interview process, we determined that Daniel was the most suitable candidate for the direction our club is pursuing as an independent club once more in the VFL,’’ Wheeler said this afternoon.

“His background as a former premiership player, coupled with strong family and cultural values, distinguished Ward from a remarkable pool of applicants. Additionally, his extensive coaching experience with proven success, not only in player development but also in achieving multiple premierships for Old Haileybury in the VAFA showed he is the right person to lead us to our next premiership.”

Johnstone said: “As a club, we are so excited to have Daniel join us as VFL senior coach of the Zebras. It was clear to me right from the start that he was the person for the job, with a great track record in our Bayside community and a hard edge coupled with experience at the highest level.

“Daniel will take our club, now a standalone, to a new level and as a club we will give him our unwavering support. It’s exciting times ahead.”

It’s believed Ward nosed out Carlton VFL assistant coach and former Port Melbourne defender Tom Langford for the role.