The Rococo Noosa Tigers have signed legendary Tasmanian coach Darren Winter to oversee its senior men’s football program in 2026. The club conducted a full expressions of interest and interview process with an independent football sub committee employed. One of them, champion Noosa onballer and 1994 club champion Craig ‘Swinger’ Horwood said it was a tough decision “as all the applicants we singled out were outstanding and presented brilliantly”.
Winter was in Noosa holidaying with family at the time of interview and was just super impressive. The former Geelong VFL player is an AFL Tasmania Hall of Fame member after an amazing playing an coaching career spanning well over two decades.
Winter was a player as tough as you get with his physical duels with Carlton and Melbourne hard men David Rhys Jones and Rod Grinter respectively still the talk of legend in the apple isle.
He also coached his beloved Clarence to multiple Senior Premierships before moving on to coach Lauderdale for 11 straight years, building their stature and culture to where they are now which is a strong on and off the field feared contender.
Winter is known as a polarising figure who galvanizes footy clubs and gets everyone working together. The boy from the tough hard working suburb of Nth Shore in Geelong, where he’s revered also, only just last year was still coaching their Senior team, developing and ensuring that the once mighty club stays on its feet, all the time flying in from Tasmania each week to do so.
Much to look forward too at Tigerland with Darren Winters appointment moving forward with the newly appointed coach up here in late October.
A big thank you to our going Senior Coach Matt Luenberger whose class as a person was always at the forefront during his tenure.
The club wishes Luey and his building family all the best for the future!
