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Favourite son John Blakey returns to the Kangaroos coaches box
North Melbourne have pulled off a coup luring dual premiership player John Blakey back to be a senior assistant coach at the Kangaroos in 2021.
The 54-year-old Blakey who has been a constant ally in the Sydney coaches box alongside both John Longmire and Paul Roos will provide seasoned support for Rhyce Shaw who underwent a tumultuous season in his first full year as a senior coach at North Melbourne.
Blakey played 224 games with the Kangaroos after 135 games with Fitzroy, joining North Melbourne at the start of 1993 where he was part of a golden era that saw them land two flags and make seven consecutive preliminary finals.
After retiring as a player at the end of 2002, Blakey began his coaching career at the Brisbane Lions in 2003 and coached one AFL game when then senior coach Leigh Matthews was ill.
He has acted in every role since joining Sydney in 2006 becoming the Swans' backline coach in 2020 after being the coaching director and head of development.
Blakey was an assistant coach when Rhyce Shaw played in the Swans 2012 premiership team and then worked alongside him when Shaw moved into coaching at the Swans, helping Shaw as he flourished while coaching the Swans' NEAFL team.
He is regarded as a steady hand and is respected for his understated approach during a lifetime in AFL football that began in 1985.
The Kangaroos have made significant changes to their coaching set-up for 2021 removing senior assistant Jade Rawlings, line coach Jarred Moore, development coaches Heath Scotland and Michael Firrito as well as head of performance Jason Lappin and ruck coach Will Minson.
North Melbourne have pulled off a coup luring dual premiership player John Blakey back to be a senior assistant coach at the Kangaroos in 2021.
The 54-year-old Blakey who has been a constant ally in the Sydney coaches box alongside both John Longmire and Paul Roos will provide seasoned support for Rhyce Shaw who underwent a tumultuous season in his first full year as a senior coach at North Melbourne.
Blakey played 224 games with the Kangaroos after 135 games with Fitzroy, joining North Melbourne at the start of 1993 where he was part of a golden era that saw them land two flags and make seven consecutive preliminary finals.
After retiring as a player at the end of 2002, Blakey began his coaching career at the Brisbane Lions in 2003 and coached one AFL game when then senior coach Leigh Matthews was ill.
He has acted in every role since joining Sydney in 2006 becoming the Swans' backline coach in 2020 after being the coaching director and head of development.
Blakey was an assistant coach when Rhyce Shaw played in the Swans 2012 premiership team and then worked alongside him when Shaw moved into coaching at the Swans, helping Shaw as he flourished while coaching the Swans' NEAFL team.
He is regarded as a steady hand and is respected for his understated approach during a lifetime in AFL football that began in 1985.
The Kangaroos have made significant changes to their coaching set-up for 2021 removing senior assistant Jade Rawlings, line coach Jarred Moore, development coaches Heath Scotland and Michael Firrito as well as head of performance Jason Lappin and ruck coach Will Minson.
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