GEELONG has finalised its 2016 VFL coaching staff, with some of the region's brightest young coaches on board to work with VFL head coach Shane O'Bree.
Dan Lowther, Mark Hovey, Glen Wallace and Brent Grgic have been appointed to the coaching staff, bringing great experience to the young Cats squad.
"Our VFL team will be a young group, and we were looking for coaches that have the ability to work with players making their way in the game," Cats VFL football manager Troy Selwood said.
"All of these coaches have experience working with young players and have enjoyed significant success in both development and results in their coaching careers.
"They all have local ties and understand how important the VFL program is to the club, and also to the young local players looking to maximise their potential.
"This should be an exciting season and with the experience these men add along with Shane O'Bree, the VFL players will be in good hands in 2016."
Lowther, who played 34 AFL games with the Cats, returns for his second season.
He was defensive coach last year, and has coaching experience with Portarlington FC (senior coach), Geelong Falcons (assistant coach), and Vic Country U18 (line coach) at the National Championships.
Lowther was captain of the Northern Knights' 1995 TAC Cup premiership winning team.
Hovey steps up to a line coaching position after five season as the Cats VFL bench manager.
Within that role he worked very closely with the coaching staff relaying messages to players and runners from ground level.
Hovey has previously been senior coach of St Joseph's Football Club for three seasons and was a highly respected premiership player with South Barwon Football Club.
Wallace joins the program after a successful playing and coaching career with South Barwon.
Ranked as the 24th best player in Geelong Football League history, Wallace won the Mathieson medal in 2000.
He has worked as assistant and co-senior coach at South Barwon and as senior coach at Thomson in the GDFL.
He led both South Barwon and Thomson to premierships during his tenure.
He has been Geelong Football League interleague coach for the past five years, taking the GFL to the number one ranking in Country Victoria.
Grgic is another former Geelong player, and tallied 90 AFL games with Melbourne and the Cats.
He played in the 2000 AFL Grand Final for Melbourne and was a member of the Cats' 2002 VFL premiership.
Grgic will act as a specialist coach and focus on VFL listed key defenders and as match-day runner.
Grgic has enjoyed a brilliant playing and coaching career with Bell Post Hill over the past decade, leading the club to five flags as coach in the past six grand finals.
Geelong's VFL training begins on Monday 16 November.
