mmg.com.au

Shane Cleary and Ricki Shiner will team to lead Longwood up the Kyabram District Football League ladder after Brendan Redfern stood down this week.

Redfern informed the club he would no longer be coach due to increased work demands. Lifelong Jacana player Cleary, who joined the Redlegs last year as an assistant coach, and Redfern’s predecessor Shiner were then approached by club officials.

Cleary, who has never been a senior coach before, has been heavily involved in the Melbourne-based contingent of the side’s pre-season.

The nuggety utility said he was looking forward to his first coaching role.

‘‘I am very excited to be able to have this opportunity,’’ Cleary said.

‘‘It is a very enthusiastic group of boys we have got and everyone is very excited about where we are headed.

‘‘It is very exciting to be a part of.’’

He said taking on the role with Shiner would help him adjust.

‘‘Rick has been really good,’’ he said.

‘‘He is really enthusiastic about everything and I think we are better off with the both of us, so we can share the role and bring different ideas to the table.’’

The Redlegs have had another solid off-season, highlighted by the return of several former players.

Cleary said there was a good mood at the club.

‘‘We are really happy with how we have gone, recruiting-wise,’’ he said.

‘‘We have managed to keep our group together, then add a few more, which is what we wanted to do.

‘‘We made some good progress last year and now it is time to take another step again.’’

He said the Redlegs, who finished above only Ardmona last season, were aiming to move into the middle rungs of the ladder.

‘‘We want to be realistic about it all,’’ Cleary said.

‘‘If we can finish middle of the road, then that is definite improvement on where we are coming from.’’