First coach for new Northern Territory Football Club.
AFL Indigenous Team of the Century selection Michael McLean will coach the new Northern Territory side in the AFL Queensland competition next year.
The current Southern Districts coach was appointed earlier today and will take charge of the new Northern Territory Football Club in December.
"I'm rapt and excited to be appointed coach of the Northern Territory Football Club and I'm looking forward to the challenge," McLean said in a statement.
"This team is a great thing for the Northern Territory and is a really positive move for Northern Territory football.
"I'm sure the entire Northern Territory will be behind us and I especially look forward to the home games in Darwin and Alice Springs. I can't wait to get started."
McLean is a Territory football icon. He went straight to the VFL from the NT in 1983, unheard of in those days, and carved for himself a solid 14-year career at Footscray then Brisbane. His playing career ended in Round 1 of the 1997 season, having played just one game for the newly formed Brisbane Lions.
He went on to become assistant coach to Leigh Matthews at the Lions that same year and has coached at senior State level ever since.
"Michael's playing and coaching career speaks for itself," Stuart Totham, general manager of the NTFC, said.
"He is one of the Northern Territory's most decorated AFL players and has built a reputation as one of the Territory's best coaches.
"In addition to his playing and coaching credentials, Michael's professional background will also be a great asset to the NTFC through his extensive experience in youth worker roles with YMCA, YWCA and now with the Clontarf Foundation.
"Michael is one of the Northern Territory's own and we trust the Northern Territory will embrace and support Michael as the inaugural coach of the NTFC."
McLean's football career:
* Played 95 games for Footscray
* Played 87 games with Brisbane
* Member of the NT side which defeated the VFA at the Bi-Centennial Carnival in Adelaide, 1988
* Two-time Brisbane Bears' best and fairest: 1991, 1993
* Induction into the AFL 200 Club and the Brisbane Lions/Fitzroy Hall of Fame
* AFLNT life membership
* Captain of the 1994 Aboriginal All-Stars (v Collingwood)
* Selection in the 2005 Indigenous AFL Team of the Century
* Assistant coach at the Brisbane Lions 1997
* Coach of NTFL club Nightcliff from 2001 to 2006
* Coach of NTFL club Southern Districts 2006-current
* Coach of AFLQ club Redlands 2005
* Premiership coach with Southern Districts 2006/07 season
* Coached of the Indigenous All-Stars, 2003, 2005 and 2007
* AFLNT Coach of the Year: 2003/04, 2004/05, 2006/07 seasons
DARREN MONCRIEFF
AboriginalFootball@westnet.com.au
Thursday, November 13, 2008
Last Modified on 14/11/2008 00:09