AFL Outer-East: Brad Coller takes the reins at Gembrook Cockatoo with Michael Firrito and Tarkyn Lockyer set to play on

With a crop of premiership under-18s about to step up to senior football and with two ex-AFL stars on hand to guide their progress, new coach Brad Coller is taking the Gembrook Cockatoo senior coaching reins at a pretty exciting time.

With a crop of premiership under-18s about to step up to senior football and with two ex-AFL stars on hand to guide their progress, new coach Brad Coller is taking the Gembrook Cockatoo senior coaching reins at a pretty exciting time.

Coller — himself a former Brookers player, kicking four goals in the premiership win of 2000 — has taken the clipboard after longtime mentor Mat O’Neill stepped back to the roll of football manager at the end of the 2018 season.

BROOKERS MUCH-IMPROVED IN 2018

MICHAEL FIRRITO AT GEMBROOK

TARKYN LOCKYER A BROOKER

Gembrook Cockatoo’s under-18s celebrate their premiership win. Picture: Bethany Hutchison

And, after the Brookers broke through for their first under-18 flag in September, and with most players committing to remaining at the club, the coaching role was too tempting to pass up.

“That was probably one of the main drawcards for me,” Coller said. “(With O’Neill to step down at season’s end) I started watching a few games and started doing some research and I knew there was some quality coming through that the club hasn’t had in such numbers ever before.

“We’ve got 10 coming up (from the under-18s), and of them six out of 10 played some senior footy last year and they’ve been training really well so far.

After the flag win of 2000, Coller suffered a knee injury the following year and returned to his original club (Thornton Eildon) where he played and coached for a number of years before being a prime mover in lifting the club out of recess in 2014.

Brad Coller during his time at Tyabb.

He also had playing and coaching stints at Cranbourne in the SEFNL and Tyabb in the Mornington Peninsula league

Coller brings an experienced coaching panel with him to the club, all with strong ties to the Brookers, AJ Walker (his assistant), Neil Busacca (player development) and Jamie Wilkie (game day co-ordinator) are all former players.

The club will also step up its professionalism in its fitness preparation under the guidance of trainers from personal training company Bfirm.

The Brookers are again likely to have the services of ex-AFL men Michael Firrito and Tarkyn Lockyer.

Firrito is currently having a kick in the Northern Territory in the off-season but will return to the club for the 2019 campaign.

“It will be a good experience for him,” Coller said. “He’s got some mates playing up there.

“Last year he didn’t want to step on any toes (at Gembrook) but this year we’ve earmarked him for a bigger role.”

Lockyer’s commitment as Collingwood’s academy head will again limit his availability but, after seven games last season, Coller said he’s keen to have another run.

“I’ve had some talks with him and he loved the club and loved his footy there,” Coller said. “He said he felt really comfortable there. But he will only ever be able to play seven or eight games.”

Michael Firrito in action for the Brookers. Picture: Bethany Hutchison