MAC’S BIG NEW GIG
BRENDAN McCartney has spoken of his passion to help the region’s emerging talent “chase their dreams” after being appointed Geelong Falcons girls coach.
The Falcons were quick to swoop on McCartney after the departure of premiership coach Jason Armistead, who landed an assistant coaching position with Richmond’s AFLW team.
The 59-year-old former Western Bulldogs coach is one of the most highly regarded developers of elite junior talent in the industry, having worked closely with Geelong’s young talent during his 11 years at the Cats in the 2000s.
He spent three seasons at the helm at the Bulldogs, where he helped develop players such as Marcus Bontempelli, Lachie Hunter and Jackson Macrae, who all went on to play in the breakthrough 2016 premiership.
McCartney said the chance to do something similar with the Falcons girls was too good to pass up.
“I worked with the girls last year and had a ball,” McCartney said.
“It was a bit of a back-seat role but the Falcons program has always had a good reputation and is run the right way.
“There are some great people working there who I want to help learn more about the game and help the kids achieve their goal and chase their dreams.
“It has always been the number one passion of mine to develop young people and teach them and guide them and help them grab opportunities.
“The girls footy is untapped, it is a breath of fresh air and it is good for the overall game because everyone gets a chance to play now, which wasn’t the case for a long time.
“It is a fantastic thing to do to help mould young people and if more people get an opportunity then it is a great thing for the sport.”
McCartney began his coaching career at Ocean Grove in the BFL and led the Grubbers to four consecutive premierships between 1994 and 1997.
The former schoolteacher’s most recent stint at AFL level was at Melbourne, where he worked alongside Paul Roos and Simon Goodwin before leaving this year, however, he said he had no ambitions to move into the AFLW coaching space.
“The role is titled as senior coach of the Falcons girls but for me it is more about developing a coaching group and using my experience and understanding of the game to help coaches in the program better themselves,” he said.
“It is fantastic for Jason to be acknowledged because he is a terrific coach and he has probably set a path for others to follow now.”
The Falcons have also lured Bree Beckley from the Geelong VFLW program as the new female talent manager.
It is understood the Falcons youth girls academy will be relocated to Western Heights Secondary College, where an elite sports complex will be established.
McCartney’s new company, Player Coach, which has been developed to help guide junior coaches in introducing new drills and methods across various grades, will also operate out of the complex.