Tatyoon finished the 2021 COVID-19 interrupted season second on the Mininera ladder, only losing one game from eleven rounds.

Newly appointed coach Zac Tunbridge said it was a 'major coup' for the club to secure the services of former AFL player Kieran Collins on a full-time basis next season.

"It is going to be really good for us to have someone with that knowledge and background to be helping not only myself but also the team," he said.

READ MORE:

Collins played one game for the Western Bulldogs where he was drafted with pick 26 in the 2015 draft. He spent the last two seasons with the Northern Blues and Northern Bullants in the VFL.

"The club reached out to him to see if he wanted to take up a coaching role and he was really keen," Tunbridge said.

"He only played a couple games for us last season and then he had a few issues with his ankle, it is like having a new recruit again."

Reigning W.J Lewis Medalist Josh Brown has also been named an assistant coach.

"Josh (Brown) has obviously been at the club for a few years now and he won the most recent league medal, he's a pretty good player," Tunbridge said.

"He had a few ideas and a bit of interest in moving up this year and helping me out.

"Obviously I played with him at our previous club at Royal Park as well so we work alongside each other pretty well."

MORE NEWS:

Tunbridge said Mat Smith and Tim McDougall have stepped up to join the coaching ranks in 2022.

"Matt (Smith) has got a good footy brain," he said.

"He was another one who was pretty keen to step up and have a bit more of a role.

"Tim (McDougall) did it last year and he had a bit of interest to go around again and have a bit of a role next year as well."

Tunbridge was able to reveal former club best and fairest Mitch Cronin would be returning to the club.

"I actually had one of my assistants speaking to him over the weekend and he was pretty keen to come back and play with his brothers again," he said.

"I just reached out to him and he was pretty keen to come back across."

Got a story to share? Get in touch - james.halley@araratadvertiser.com.au

Tunbridge said the club returned to preseason in the second week of November.

"I identified over the off season that we needed to improve our fitness base," he said.

"I think coming off the COVID-19 breaks everyone struggled to get back into things with all of the uncertainty surrounding the season.

"We didn't have as much time as we would have liked to set up a proper game plan.

"Off the back of losing one game I think everyone was pretty keen to have a really red hot crack this season.

"We are training three times a week and have had in excess of 30 people for each session."

While you're with us, you can now receive updates straight to your inbox from The Ararat Advertiser. To make sure you're up-to-date with all the news from across the Ararat shire, sign up here