Northern Football League master coach Phil Plunkett joins TAC Cup side Northern Knights

ONE OF the Northern Football League’s most recognisable figures is relishing a new challenge as assistant coach of TAC Cup club Northern Knights.

Phil Plunkett takes charge of preseason training during his time with Northern Football League club Bundoora. Picture: Mark Wilson

ONE OF the Northern Football League’s most recognisable figures is relishing a new challenge as senior assistant coach of TAC Cup club Northern Knights.

Phil Plunkett — who has held senior coaching roles with Heidelberg, Oak Park and Bundoora over the past decade — began the new role last month and hopes the move will help him develop as a coach and potentially lead to an opportunity at the top level.

“I got to a point where I’d done local coaching for 10 years and I really just wanted to improve my coaching and one way was to go into that (TAC Cup) system and it’s a good pathway into going into VFL and hopefully an AFL job,” Plunkett said.

“Going down to the Knights has opened a few doors for me already. It’s been a great learning curve and I’ve only been there for a month.”

Plunkett stepped down from his role at Bundoora in September after four seasons in charge.

The 42-year-old led the Bulls to the NFL Division 1 premiership in his first season in 2013 after previously steering Heidelberg to three straight flags from 2007-09.

Plunkett, a former Northern Knights player, is part of an all new coaching panel at the club, headed by former Oakleigh Chargers mentor Justin Wenke and including Marcus Hastings and Peter Buszard as assistants.

“Being involved in the northern area and coaching for so long, I really want the region to do well,” Plunkett said.

“We haven’t had much success of late but hopefully we can turn that around and also teach the kids some really good football habits.”