Lower Plenty appoint four-time NFL Division 1 premiership coach for 2022

One of the greatest local footy coaches of the modern era, four-time premiership winner Phil Plunkett, is returning to the Northern Football League.

One of the Northern Football League’s greatest coaches is back.

Four-time Division 1 premiership winner Phil Plunkett will lead Lower Plenty in 2022.

Plunkett won three straight premierships at Heidelberg in 2007-09, part of the Tigers’ famous four-peat before going on to guide Bundoora to the 2013 flag.

He hasn’t coached in the NFL since departing the Bulls in 2016 but was looking forward to the challenge at the Bears.

“I’ve had a few years out of it (the NFL), so it’s exciting,” he said.

“They’ve got a lot of young kids that are keen and eager to learn, it’s a great time to get on board and hopefully I can teach them something.

“They’re an up-and-coming group, they’re at that spot where they’re around the mark to try and move up a grade and hopefully I can help them achieve that, stay up and set the foundations for the future.

“It’s always a good challenge, coaching at a different level, so I’m looking forward to it.”

Plunkett has previously coached at EDFL club Oak Park, been senior assistant at VFL outfit Northern Blues and NAB League club Northern Knights – where he was part of the inaugural team in 1994.

He has spent the past two seasons coaching VAFA Division 2 outfit Old Paradians, where he went to school.

“It’s a terrific club (Paradians), really well resourced in regards to facilities,” Plunkett said.

Phil Plunkett during his time at Old Paradians. Picture: Josie Hayden

“It was a bit different in terms of amateur football and expectations, which was a challenging, but I’m happy I did it. It was terrific.”

The experienced mentor takes the Bears’ reins after Ben Turner departed earlier this month.

Turner led the club to the Division 2 flag in 2018 but decided not to reapply when the position was advertised.

The Bears were second, behind Banyule on percentage, when the NFL season was called off.

Plunkett will have some impressive talent at his disposal

Darcy and Billy Barden have already called to welcome him to the club, while Josh Turner, Tom Keys and Tom Blake were all top five in the Coaches’ MVP voting.

Plunkett said list management and recruiting plans were high on the to-do list.

“I haven’t really sunk my teeth into where the club’s at, where they’re expected to be,” he said.

DIV 2: TWO HEADS ARE BETTER THAN ONE AT EPPING

LEADER: GET YOUR NORTHERN FOOTY NEWS HERE

RAFFLE: NORTHERN CLUBS LEAD NATIONAL FUNDRAISER

“Once we get there we can see what the list is like and what we should be aiming towards.

“It’s always ideal to aim for finals and it’s a whole new ball game from there.

“I’ll have to sit down with the club and see where they think they might be deficient.

“They’re doing the right things at the moment, it might be just a matter of working with the list – harnessing it – or finding out there’s one or two spots we need to improve at.”