NAB League: Anthony Rocca and Allana Dickie appointed Northern Knights’ coaches

New Northern Knights coaches Anthony Rocca and Allana Dickie have given an insight on how they establish the program as one of the NAB’ League’s best.

Newly appointed Northern Knights coaches Anthony Rocca (boys) and Allana Dickie (girls). Photo: Facebook.

The future of Northern Knights is now clearer.

The NAB League club has turned to Anthony Rocca and Allana Dickie as their new coaches for the boys and girls’ teams respectively.

Rocca is a graduate of the Knights’ program and is hopeful of seeing a return to the glory days.

The Knights haven’t won a boys’ premiership since 2016.

“What you do at this level is a lot about the Oakleighs and Sandringhams and we’re aspiring to be a region that’s up in that echelon.

“We look forward to develop the players in this region. It’s my first time as a head coach, and I will learn on the go as well, which is fantastic and I’ll have great support around me.

“I don’t know everything and I’m going to learn on the way which is part of my development which is part of the reason I wanted to do this role as well.

“The culture, the environment, the values — the program will be very, very similar (for the boys and girls).

“Obviously the way the boys play may differ to the girls a little bit but most of the stuff will be collaborative.”

Newly appointed Northern Knights coaches Anthony Rocca (boys) and Allana Dickie (girls). Photo: Facebook.

Dickie, a former VFLW assistant coach with Williamstown, is set to have the honour of becoming the Knights’ first full-time girls coach who will focus solely on that team.

Her position was made possible after a $5 million commitment to significantly boost resources available to girls pathway programs in Victoria and Tasmania from the AFL.

“I’m really looking forward to developing in this new role, I thought something like this might have been one or two years away for me,” she said.

“The boys and girls will reap the rewards of having full-time coaches. My coaching philosophy is for the players to have fun while getting the best out of themselves on and off the field.

“We’re going to give it our best every week. One of the exciting parts of this year is that a lot of the players will get to experience a pre-season for the camp for the first time which will really allow us to connect as a team.

“I want this to be a fun environment where the players can enjoy their footy.”