MPNFL: Stephen Brattle to coach Mt Eliza in 2021

The results of a Mt Eliza players survey will help shape the club’s future direction as reappointed coach Stephen Brattle plots Redlegs success.

New Mt Eliza senior coach Steve Brattle.

Great things can be achieved at Mt Eliza.

It’s an opinion Stephen Brattle has long held — even well before he was appointed senior coach of the Redlegs last October.

Nine months on, he’s yet to coach a game — “I’m undefeated’’, as he cheekily points out — but his positive forecast has not changed.

“The players have worked really hard, they’re just a fit bunch of young guys,’’ Brattle said of Mt Eliza’s stop-start and ultimately aborted preparation for the 2020 season.

“We had 60 to 65 at training every week.’’

Mt Eliza young gun Bailey Breen flies for a mark.

Brattle has recommitted to Mt Eliza for 2021 and is looking forward to working with an exciting list featuring young guns Tom Small, Mason De Wit, Bailey Breen, Sam Webster and Finlay Bayne.

And with former St Kilda ruckman Lewis Pierce ready to relaunch his Redlegs career, the Mounties look set to climb the ladder.

The Redlegs’ cause will also be helped by the return of the Rouse twins, Zach and Jordan, after four seasons with the Wodonga Raiders in the Ovens and Murray league.

St Kilda’s Lewis Pierce goes up against Hawthorn’s Marc Pittonet. Picture: Michael Klein

Brattle said Mt Eliza’s players were surveyed about training — what they liked, disliked and where the club could improve — and the feedback was positive.

“We did good there,’’ he said.

“I’ve had a meeting with the club and sorted out next year already, so that puts some security around what’s going on.

“Being humorous, I’m undefeated, so no kid can say I can’t coach.’’

Mt Eliza is noted for its vast depth of junior talent.

Brattle has a proven record with young players. He is a Redlegs U16s, U18s and U19s premiership coach, and estimates he’s coached 60 percent of the current Mt Eliza senior list in Under 19s.

A Mt Eliza club statement said Brattle had the players engaged and ready to perform at their best when the 2020 season was cancelled.

“Along the way, his positivity and professionalism demonstrated that he is the right person to take us through 2021 and beyond,’’ it read.

“He represents everything that the Redlegs stand for and is a highly valued personality for football in the region.’’

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