Jason Heatley confirmed as North Heidelberg’s coach for 2020
North Heidelberg premiership coach Jason Heatley is returning to Shelley Reserve in 2020, taking over the reins from Brent Harvey with the club determined to improve on consecutive preliminary final finishes.
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North Heidelberg favourite son Jason Heatley returns to the Kennel in 2020.
The Bulldogs junior and NFL premiership player takes the coaching reins from Brent Harvey, who stepped down due to an expanded role at North Melbourne.
Heatley was an assistant coach at Eastern Football League Premier Division outfit Doncaster this season.
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North Heidelberg president Warren Haysom was rapt to regain a long-time Bulldog and quality coach.
“When Boomer intimated he wouldn’t go around next season — coaching wise — we sounded out Jason,” he said.
“He’s a former Bulldog, a proven coach at a very good level and with his wealth of knowledge I think he’s one of the best coaches going around in metro footy.”
Heatley’s connection with the Dogs dates back to 1992 when the then 20-year-old forward kicked 118 goals and claimed the Division 1 goalkicking award.
After 63 AFL games with West Coast and St Kilda, Heatley returned to Shelley Reserve in 2001 as playing coach and booted 110 majors to win his second goalkicking award, nine years after his first.
He also spearheaded the club’s last top-flight premiership in 2005.
Coaching success has followed Heatley with premierships at Northcote Park (2012) and Heidelberg (2016).
The Bulldogs will be desperate to improve on consecutive preliminary final appearances after winning their way back to Division 1 in 2017.
Harvey will continue to pull on the boots when his AFL commitments allow and Haysom was confident the vast majority of players would be back in 2020.
“We’re always looking to improve,” he said.
“We’ll look to go youth where we can, we think we’ve still got that (premiership) window available to us.
“Of our top 30 players we’d like to keep at least 90-95 per cent of them, one or two will go through lack of opportunity.
“Sometimes you can be a victim of your own success, we’ve won 80 per cent of our games in the last four years, and haven’t been knocked around by injury.”
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