Ronnie rocks up at Cairns
NORTH Cairns will have a dual prong of former AFL players leading them into the future with former Geelong forward Ronnie Burns to coach the club in 2020.
Just weeks after landing VFL life member and respected mentor Peter German as their full-time football manager, Burns will follow to Watsons Oval to lead the Tigers’ rebuild.
North Cairns has battled to be competitive over the past few years, churning through a number of coaches, but there will be an air of optimism around the Tigers after the bigname acquisitions.
Interim North Cairns president Richard Lillie believes Burns, who kicked 239 goals in 134 games for Geelong, will be a perfect pick-up for the club, which failed to win a game in season 2019.
“It is ideal for us, where we are as a club and our demographic,” Lillie said.
“He has a profile, people know his name and it will be a good news thing for us as a football club.
“With bringing him on board, it shows that things are happening at the football club.
“He has a couple of mates up here in Cairns and his name got suggested.
“Ronnie has met with Peter a few times and he is really keen. It has worked out well.”
The 46-year-old Burns, originally from Darwin, played seven seasons for the Cats before being recruited to Adelaide in 2003.
The five-time Geelong leading goalkicker played 20 games for the Crows, booting 23 goals, before retiring in the 2004 season.
He has coaching experience in the Northern Territory, having been an assistant coach at the Tiwi Bombers in the NTFL.
Burns has also been a regular guest on the Marngrook Footy Show since he retired.