Warren handed Brisbane Lions role

FORMER Gympie Cats player Dean Warren will help guide the fortunes of the Brisbane Lions in 2011 after being appointed General Manager of Football operations

Dean Warren pictured with wife Toni will join the Brisbane Lions this year. Picture: Craig Warhurst

FORMER Gympie Cats Australian football player Dean Warren will help guide the fortunes of the Brisbane Lions in 2011 after being appointed General Manager of Football operations last week.

The high powered position will see him join Lions coach Michael Voss to chase the clubs fourth premiership.

Warren has a long history in AFL playing his first senior game for the Gympie Cats at age 14 going on to represent Queensland at both junior and senior level.

He won the prestigious Grogan Medal in 1994 while playing for Kedron Grange and is a member of the Queensland Australian Football Hall of Fame, having played 170 games in the Queensland state league and six for Queensland.

The former James Nash State High School student has more than 20 years experience in AFL administration, his last post was the league’s national community and participation manager.

Warren said he would start work with the Lions on November 15 in what should be a hectic first week.

“I start the same week as the player draft, it should keep me pretty busy,” Warren said.

“The Lions have pick five of the draft, so we should get an elite young player.”

Warren is excited about joining the Lions and being part of the cut and thrust of a top grade football season.

“Having worked at the AFL for a long period of time, it will be exciting to work for the Brisbane Lions and focus on football operations at a club level," Warren said.

“It’s an exciting opportunity to help rebuild the club both on and off the field.

Warren will work side by side with coach Michael Voss.

“I will look after the club operations so Vossy can concentrate on coaching,” he said.

He said his responsibilities would include looking after the salary cap, recruiting and the day to day running of the team.

“It’s my job to ensure the Lions become a force again in the AFL,” Warren said.

Another one of Warren’s jobs will be to keep an eye on star players like Brendan Fevola.

Fevola has had a chequered career off the field, but Warren said he is about to turn the corner on the field for the Lions.

“Everyone hopes Fev can get over his surgery and play well for the Lions this year.

“With Fev and Jonathon Brown up front the Lions have one of the most dangerous forward lines in the competition,” Warren said.

Lions chairman Angus Johnson believes Warren has all the attributes to be a success.

“Dean has great experience in the AFL, both as an administrator and as the national community and participation manager for the past seven years,” Johnson said.

“This is an extremely important position and we are very confident that Dean will do a fantastic job.”

Warren’s Gympie based parents Ray and Helen Warren were over the moon about their son’s new role at the Lions.

The Warren family has long been involved with the Gympie Cats Australian Football Club.

The family including Ray, Helen, Dean and brother Glenn have just this year been inducted into the Sunshine Coast Football Hall of Fame. It is a reward for the years of hard work the family has put into game.

Originally published as Warren handed Brisbane Lions role