Mackay Joins Coaching Crew

The Box Hill Hawks are pleased to welcome David Mackay to its coaching ranks for the 2022 season.

The 248-game Adelaide Crows veteran, who retired at the close of the 2021 season, returns home to Victoria to take up a multi-faceted role within the Hawthorn-Box Hill alignment, one which will have Mackay coach the newly established Hawks Academy and take a seat in Clint Proctor’s coaches’ box.

From an Academy standpoint, the position will see him work alongside Academy Manager and fellow recent retiree Keegan Brooksby to develop father-son, father-daughter and Next Generation prospects for the men’s and women’s state league, AFL and AFLW programs.

“We’re thrilled to have David on board,” said Daniel Napoli – GM VFL & VFLW.

“His knowledge of the game and passion for coaching will be an asset to not only our Academy project, but our VFL program.

“He comes to us as fresh out of the game as one can be. He’s well placed to pay his considerable experience forward to our group and champing at the bit to contribute to the growth and development of our list.

Mackay’s arrival adds to an already impressive coaching roster, with the Hawks’ playing group set to benefit from a raft of experienced voices.

“We’ve been fortunate to have so many strong coaching groups year-on-year, but in my time at Box Hill I’m not sure we’ve had one as impressive as this. David’s addition to this particular coaching class is significant, I think.

“In Clint Proctor, Andy Otten, Clinton Young, Cam Howat, Damian Mascitti and now David, we’ve got more than 500 games worth of AFL experience guiding our group; not to mention the kind of invaluable, long-term exposure to state league football that our players can relate to.”

The role will see Mackay work closely with newly-announced playing-coach Damian Mascitti, with the pair to share the responsibility of overseeing the Club’s backs group.

“Damian’s transition into a hybrid on-field, off-field role is obviously exciting for him and us, but it creates situations in which he won’t be in the box or a position to immediately coach and provide an insight into our defensive group.

“It was important we provided Damian, our playing group and fellow coaches support in those circumstances – David will be an outstanding resource for Damian to bounce off and coach alongside.”

From an Academy point of view, Mackay’s work with Brooksby is an exciting first step in a long-term vision for the Club’s development pathway.

“The Hawks Academy piece is an important one, perhaps as significant an expansion to the Hawthorn-Box Hill partnership as we’ve seen in a long while.

“The Box Hill Hawks are excited to take the responsibility for the growth and maturation of this program in house and set out to ensure it becomes a quality pathway into state league and elite football.

“Both Keegan and David will do an terrific job driving that.”

Mackay will join up with Box Hill the week beginning December 13.