Dean Grainger back at Lalor after 23 years after being appointed as Northern Football League senior coach

DEAN Grainger’s introduction to senior football came as a teenager in one of the greatest eras in Lalor’s history.

Dean Grainger has been appointed as coach of Lalor. Picture: News Limited.

DEAN Grainger’s introduction to senior football came as a teenager in one of the greatest eras in Lalor’s history.

Grainger played in a preliminary final for the Bloods in 1993, the year they claimed their third consecutive Division 1 premiership with a 14-point grand final win over Bundoora.

He departed for Northern Knights the next season, but 23 years later has been drawn back to Lalor Reserve.

Grainger has been appointed Lalor’s senior coach for 2018, stepping into the role vacated by Jarrod King.

“Good experiences, great people there and I am really looking forward to getting back involved,” he said.

Grainger has returned to Lalor determined to recreate the glory days he experienced in the early 90s.

“It’s going to be a whole range of people from all levels that have been involved at the footy club and just love being involved,” he said.

“That’s the most exciting thing, getting the older people back to support the footy club and hopefully get it back to where it should be.”

Lalor finished two games clear of relegation from Division 2 this year, battling to six wins from 34 games since contesting the 2015 grand final.

“I have had discussions in the past week with a few players as well,” Grainger said.

“There’s things we have identified and you probably need to bite the bullet and get one or two I suppose.

“If that’s not the case we will stick with what we have got and build with the guys I have got on the list.

“Help them improve and develop, that’s part of my job as well.”

The Bloods were caught short when Todd Hughes and Scott Dowell — two members of Bundoora’s premiership team — joined the Bulls in February.

“They were really good players for the footy club. They are big shoes to fill for the guys they tried to get in to fill that void,” Grainger said.

Grainger was in charge of Division 3 club South Morang until Round 4 this year, when he was replaced by Gary Hall.

“I always wanted to get back involved. It was out of my control what happened at South Morang,” he said.

“I’m looking forward to the job next year.”

Grainger has left the door ajar for King to remain involved with the club, adding his experience would be tough to replace.