Aaron Collins ready to lead Reservoir out of NFL recess as planning continues for 2017 return

AARON Collins has performed what many believed to be a footballing miracle before.

Reservoir's 2017 coaches: assistants Dave Vangeli, Nathan Brundell and Bill Clendenning with senior coach Aaron Collins. Picture: Andy Brownbill.

AARON Collins has performed what many believed to be a footballing miracle before.

Collins led perennial Essendon District Football League struggler Jacana to a grand final appearance last year, completing a stunning turnaround for a club which had been close to extinction in 2012.

The experienced mentor will be confronted by a challenge of similar magnitude next year as he leads Reservoir’s revival in the Northern Football League.

Collins has inked a three-year deal as senior coach with the Mustangs, who have been in recess this year after an exodus of senior players following the club’s 2015 Division 3 flag.

“That was 15 years without success (at Jacana),” Collins said.

“We brought that in through changing the mindset of the group and making them work hard.

“Unfortunately we didn’t win it, but just to make the grand final was a great effort for that club.

“The reserves went on and made the grand final this year, they’re up and about now.

“Hopefully we can do the same thing with Reservoir.”

The 45-year-old said he was confident Reservoir would have enough players committed by the NFL’s November deadline to confirm its return to the field.

“One hundred per cent, not a problem in the world,” Collins said when asked about the club’s prospects of fielding two teams in Division 3 in 2017.

“As long as everything is right to go, we’ll be there, don’t worry about that. The reserves aren’t a problem, we’ve got the numbers there. It was more about trying to get a senior base. We’ve just about achieved that.”

About 15 players have signed with the club for 2017, with a further 10 verbally agreeing to move to Crispe Park.

“A big focus was trying to bring in a lot more players and hopefully they can see we are doing our work and doing everything we can to bring people back into the club,” Collins said.

The new Mustangs mentor said he had other job offers, but chose Reservoir because he was optimistic about the club’s rebuild.