THEY have been two of the most dynamic, talented Bulldogs players over recent seasons and in 2015 Aaron Byrne and Luke Berkrey will combine to coach the first grade side.
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Byrne, always a Bulldog at heart, is returning to his home club from a season at the Young Cherrypickers where he has learnt a lot from playing coach Luke Branighan.
He has coached the side before, in 2011 with Grant Boyd and the following year as a solo coach.
For Berkrey, at 22-years-old, this is his first time coaching the top grade. He coached the under 18s last year so brings some coaching experience with him, as well as a world of playing experience.
Both men, and the entire Bulldogs committee, are excited by the appointment of coaches saying this is amongst the earliest the top job has been sewn up.
All are getting a jump on recruiting players for the 2015 season and are going back to basics with high hopes a strong number of locals will be lacing up their boots in blue and white.
While the 2014 season is yet to officially close with the Weissel Medal Count tonight and the Bulldogs Presentation night on October 10, Byrne and Berkrey are already focussed on the new season.
From the outset they are hoping to improve on the already strong culture in the club encouraging players to be serious about training from the outset. It’s no secret a strong pre-season feeds into a strong season and Byrne and Berkrey are committed to encouraging their fellow players to build the season on a positive note.
Byrne, at 28-years-old, has won a Grand Final with Sawtell, where he played for a season so knows what it’s like to taste premiership glory. He is keen to do this again in a team with all of his good mates.
He leads by example and will not ask anything of his players he wouldn’t do himself.
As a specialist hooker, he was missed this season when he was playing in Young, with the Bulldogs rotating five players through the position.
Regarding his season in Young, Byrne said it was a personal challenge to play in a team where he knew no-one.
“I learnt a lot, they have a different way of doing things and to play with and under someone like Luke Branighan helped by football a lot,” Byrne said.
Berkrey has played three seasons of top-grade footy in Cootamundra. Like Byrne, he has won a premiership with a different club, Berkrey’s coming with the Queanbeyan Roos.
He has played in the Toyota Cup, SG Ball and Harold Matthews competitions for the Raiders.
He says coaching was always something he aimed to do and while he didn’t think he would do it so soon he has relished the opportunity.
On behalf of the committee, president Wayne Berkrey said he could not be happier and was excited to receive the boys’ applications.
“They are two local boys and both very talented representative players,” Berkrey said.
“There are two types of players, leaders and followers and these two boys are both leaders,” he added.
It is hoped this year’s coach Mark Elia will remain involved in the club, hopefully in an executive role.
While 2015 is a long way off, the Bulldogs will continue to be involved in the community over the off-season.
For a number of months they have been involved in assisting at the Southern Cross Care Retirement Village with various activities from barbecues to bingo.
It’s as much fun for the players and committee as the residents! Both new coaches have jumped on board to continue to help with this during the off-season, Byrne for the first time and Berkrey having been part of the fun this season.
