Roberts, Pattison key Blacks signings

Cam Roberts will once again lead University Blacks in the 2018 season after he was recently reappointed senior coach.

Following an unsuccessful 2017 campaign whereby a spate of injuries and unavailability to key players resulted in just four wins and relegation to Premier B, the Blacks moved swiftly to secure the 2014 premiership coach as the man to lead them back into the VAFA’s top section.

Blacks President, Nick Carah, said the club is delighted with Roberts’ re-signing after forging an outstanding reputation as both a coach and a leader in the VAFA.

“Cam is a great developer of talent and character and with a strong core of returning and emerging young players, Cam is excited to take on the challenge of leading the Blacks in 2018,” Carah said.

The 2014 premiership coach played a leading hand in the Blacks Academy over the past 12 months, providing on and off field leadership, mentoring and development for our young players, many of whom are young men from the country, living away from home for the first time. He was Big V senior coach in 2015 and led the representative side to a thrilling five-point victory over the Northern FL to retain the Metro Championships.

He has also worked as an assistant to Paul Groves with the Western Bulldogs’ AFLW side and alongside John Kanis with the VAFA’s women’s representative team this year.

Most recently, Roberts was one of four winners of Foxtel’s #ThanksCoach Trip of a Lifetime in 2017, designed to recognise and reward coaches based on their coaching achievements on and off the track.

In further off-field news, the Blacks have announced the appointment of former premiership player, Adam Pattison, as Head of Football.

“Adam’s role will see him oversee the football program at the Uni Blacks, inclusive of Coaching, Recruitment, Player Development & Welfare and our Fitness & Medical programs” Carah said.

“We are excited to welcome Adam back to the Blacks and we are very confident that his passion, character and football smarts along with his love for the Club will be a huge asset for us going forward.”

Pattison, who played 60 games with both Blacks and Old Paradians following an AFL career with Richmond, St Kilda and Hawthorn, has been plying his coaching trade with TAC Cup side Eastern Ranges in various roles since 2012 before accepting the role of senior coach with Montrose in the EFL this year.