O'Loan takes on role of his own

Premiership coach Shaun O'Loan will take on a new coaching role with Brothers in 2018.

Brothers' Shaun O'Loan. Picture: David Nielsen

SHAUN O'Loan has done just about everything in his 15-plus years at Brothers.

Having coached everything from under-13s up to A-grade, this season's reserve grade premiership-winning coach decided to take a step back in 2018.

But he is not stepping too far away from the coaching chair, rather moving to a higher seat in an effort to help streamline the coaching process at the club.

O'Loan will take on a brand new role next season as Brothers' director of coaching.

"Jason (Connors) is the boss, he's the A-grade coach and I'm just here to help with everything else,” O'Loan said when asked how he would oversee proceedings.

"From player culture, to performance on the field it will be about making sure we're on the right track in everything we do.”

O'Loan took a break from coaching and returned to great effect in 2017.

His passion restored, the club veteran decided it was time to "try something different”.

"Just like everything, the club needs a bit of a lift, we're a little stagnant at the moment,” he said.

"The committee has seen we need a change, and we're putting things in place to help with that.

"I've been coaching for years, I had a break and then got the passion again but it's time to change it up.”

Culture was the buzzword out of O'Loan.

He said although the club had a relatively successful 2017 season as a whole, his focus would be to make sure that upward trajectory continues into 2018 and beyond.