One of the most successful Warrnambool and District league coaches of the modern era has rejoined the Hampden league.
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Shane Threlfall, who co-coached Nirranda to two premierships in the past four years, has signed as an assistant coach with Port Fairy for 2020.
The premiership mentor is looking forward to working with a Seagulls team that finished fourth this year.
"From what I understand, they've got some of the elite players in the Hampden league so it will be really good to work with that top-end talent and to develop the young players," he said.
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Threlfall is returning to Port Fairy after coaching the Seagulls' senior side from 2009-11.
He then became Terang Mortlake's coach from 2012-13.
The football tactician co-coached Nirranda with Shane Quick from 2016-19, with premierships in 2016 and 2018.
He said he cherished his time with the Blues.
"I'm certainly really proud of the success we were able to achieve at Nirranda," he said.
Threlfall is looking forward to supporting new Port Fairy senior coach Winis Imbi.
"I've known Winis from a distance for a long time but never known him that well," he said.
"Certainly in the last few weeks I've been impressed with his attitude to footy and the way he goes about it.
"It's really more about supporting Winis and what his plans and philosophies are."
Imbi is thrilled to have the experienced coach on board for 2020.
"I'm excited by what he's going to offer our group and how he is going to enrich me as a coach as well," he said.
Imbi said Threlfall's tactical nous was an asset.
"Shane acknowledged that as one of his strengths and that's probably not one of my greatest strengths on game day," he said.
Imbi added it was important to have multiple eyes and minds in a tactical Hampden league competition.
"This gig of coaching is too big for one person," he said.
The Seagulls new coach said Threlfall's role would go beyond game day.
"He'll take part in our training and how we train," he said.
"He'll be a voice and a presence.
"He'll work closely with our forward line as well helping them with creating real chemistry."
Imbi added he had great on-field leaders in his team's forward line but a voice on the bench would help maximise their attack.
Threlfall was also an assistant at Koroit for four years, including in its 2007 premiership year.
He isn't the Seagulls' only big WDFNL coup this off-season.
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