JULIER ANNOUNCED AS INTERLEAGUE COACH
Former Barry Priest Medallist Brad Julier has been appointed coach of the Western Region Football League’s Senior Interleague team for 2019.
Julier is returning to the league after playing with the Port Melbourne Colts for more than 10 years as well as a recent stint as bench coach with VFL club Werribee.
He takes over from Caroline Springs coach Brodie Holland, who led the Senior team during last year’s Interleague campaign.
Julier won the league’s most prestigious award, the Barry Priest Medal, as the Division 1 Best and Fairest in 2008. He played in four Grand Finals, winning one premiership in 2006.
The talented footballer was also part of the WRFL’s Interleague win over the Southern Football League in the AFL Victoria Metro Championships five years ago.
Julier says he was looking forward to returning to the league and working with the best players and coaches from across Melbourne’s west.
“My son now plays in the west, so I am back involved with the league,” he said.
“The league is growing and getting stronger and I wanted to get involved because I want to move the league back up the Community Championships rankings.”
“Hopefully we get a good buy-in from all the clubs and get the best possible side on the park and really challenge Goulburn Valley on May 18.”
WRFL CEO Matthew Duck said Brad’s coaching CV, knowledge of the league and independence from WRFL clubs, allowing him the capacity to get around and watch players in the lead-in to selection, were significant factors in his appointment.
“Brodie Holland’s involvement as senior coach last year was absolutely first-class, and we thank him sincerely for all his work,” Duck said.
“Ultimately our schedules just didn’t allow for a continuation, and when Brad’s name came up as an option, we were keen to discuss it with him and ultimately really impressed by his credentials and approach.”
Duck said the WRFL’s Senior results from the past two years didn’t necessarily reflect the true strength of the competition.
“This year there’s certainly an opportunity for the WRFL to put a stake in the ground and remind the broader football public of just how strong we are as a competition, and at the same time elevate ourselves back into the top five rankings.”
The Under 18 team will again be coached by Matthew Dean.
Dean has successfully coached the past three Under-19 representative teams, winning games against the Ovens and Murray Football League, Northern Football League and Ballarat Football League.
The WRFL will take on the Goulburn Valley Football League at Avalon Airport Oval on Saturday, May 18.
The two representative games will be played as curtain raisers to the Round 8 NAB League match between the Geelong Falcons and the Western Jets.