SYDNEY Swans premiership defender Marty Mattner has signed on as an assistant coach at the club.

 

The 31-year old retired due to a hip condition after the Swans round seven match against Hawthorn this year.

 

The 222-game veteran says he discovered a desire to coach after watching from the sidelines this year.

 

"I'm really excited to be staying with the Swans and thankful for the opportunity to step into a coaching role," Mattner said.

 

"During the season when I was injured and retired, that time I spent with the reserves really opened my eyes and confirmed that I wanted to coach.

 

"It was a great opportunity to see the coaching side of the game, I was really happy with it all and thoroughly enjoyed working closely with the club's young players.

 

"I'm really looking forward to this next chapter in my life, it's a great opportunity to be an assistant coach and I can't wait to get back into it for day one of pre-season."

 

Swans football manager Dean Moore believes Mattner will be a great asset to the coaching department.

 

"After Marty retired early in the season, he worked closely with the club's young players in the reserves, which was a role he performed with great success," Moore said.

 

"Marty is a great teacher of the game and he knows what it takes to succeed at the highest level.

 

"On the field, Marty was an absolute professional and team player, he performed the one-percenters well all the time, and it's these qualities that make him a great addition to our coaching department."

 

Mattner played 98 games for Adelaide before switching to the Swans at the end of 2007.