Justin Plapp appointed coach of VFL mainstay Williamstown

The Seagulls have settled on another former VFL coach to replace their 2015 premiership mentor Andy Collins.

Justin Plapp working the huddle at Casey, which he took to the 2016 grand final. Picture: Chris Eastman

Almost a decade after he coached Williamstown’s Development League team, Justin Plapp is returning to the iconic VFL club as senior coach.

The former Richmond and St Kilda forward has accepted the full-time position vacated by Andy Collins, who has landed at Box Hill Hawks as an assistant to Sam Mitchell.

Plapp last month resigned from Melbourne’s coaching staff, having been with the Demons since 2015.

He coached their VFL affiliate Casey from 2015-17, taking it to the grand final in 2016, and had charge of the VFL representative side in 2017.

Plapp said the prospect of coaching his own team again had prompted him to apply for the Willy position.

“That appeal, coaching my own team outright again, was certainly high on the agenda,’’ he said.

Justin Plapp calling the shots at Casey.

“It’s been a long time since I’ve been able to do that, put down my own philosophies and methods and doing it my way. Probably the last time was back in Burnie. Ever since I left Burnie I’ve been in aligned clubs – Williamstown with the Western Bulldogs, Box Hill Hawks with Hawthorn, Casey with Melbourne.’’

Plapp said Williamstown was a proud club with strong values and “they talk the talk and they walk the walk’’.

“When you look outside the AFL system, you’ve really got to admire the way they function,’’ he said. “Going through the process, the people I dealt with certainly backed that up.’’

Noting Williamstown’s history – the club was established in 1864 – he said it had overcome adversity at certain periods and continued to proudly represent its local community.

“The yellow and blue, some of the great players who have represented the club … that’s certainly inspiring, thinking about the people who have come before you,’’ Plapp said.

Plapp coached Sandringham Dragons in the TAC Cup from 2012-14 before joining Melbourne.

His experience also includes his 2011 stint at Williamstown as development and reserves coach under Peter German and the same role at Box Hill Hawks in 2010.

He kicked off his coaching career in his home state of Tasmania, where he was playing coaching of Burnie Dockers in 2008-09.

Justin Plapp playing for the Tassie Devils in the VFL.

The 43-year-old came out of Tassie to play 44 AFL games, 18 at Richmond from 1998-1999 and 26 at St Kilda from 2000-2002. Returning to Tassie, he played for the Devils in the VFL as a hard-hitting forward.

Unable to commit to a full-time position with Willy, Collins stepped down from the Seagulls after a seven-year tenure that took in the 2015 premiership.

He also steered the Towners to the 2019 grand final. From that side Willy has farewelled 10 players, including ruck great Nick Meese and Willie Wheeler and Leigh Masters.

But they have announced two key signings in the past few days: former Greater Western Sydney big man Tom Downie and ex-Hawthorn small Teia Miles.

Downie, 27, who played nine AFL matches, has crossed from the VAFA, where he won the B section best and fairest with Old Scotch in 2019. He also gained team-of-the-year selection and topped the club goalkicking.

“Having Tom come on board is really exciting for us heading into the 2021 season,” Towners football manager Steve Soulsby said.

“His ability to play as a ruck/forward gives us a really dynamic look working alongside Joel Ottavi and will be a valuable asset to our midfield group with his experience at AFL level.”

Miles, 24, played 12 AFL games for the Hawks and figured in Box Hill’s 2018 premiership. The former Geelong Falcon had signed to play with Geelong’s VFL team this year.