Kids give Wallace heart

JORDAN GERRANS

ORIGINALLY brought to the club as a development coach, CTB interim mentor Brad Wallace wants to continue with that theme in 2020.

Wallace crossed from fellow northern beaches AFL Cairns club City Lions to Trinity Beach over summer to be reserves coach, as well as helping out with development in the senior team.

Suddenly, just weeks out from the restart of the season, the former Lions defender finds himself coaching the senior side after Wayne Sharkie’s unexpected axing.

Wallace aims to build a platform for his club to be “up” for a while, not just depending on big-name recruits every season, but actually investing in youth.

The plumber was at the Lions in their darkest days and has seen first-hand just how quickly the wheel can turn at a football club.

“Trinity Beach has a really talented junior base and I coached Lions’ under-18s a couple of years ago. I really enjoyed working with those kids and I will be at Trinity Beach looking to bring the kids through to senior football in a positive way,” Wallace said.

He is confident CTB can field two teams in 2020, despite questions over numbers last month. The Bulldogs have picked up some displaced rugby league players, with a handful of Ivanhoe Knights arriving on their doorstep.

Wallace has been impressed with playmaker Zane Knowles since he has arrived at CTB, flourishing in a recent time trial after previously playing in the state under-20 rugby league competition.