Nirranda reappoints Brayden Harkness as coach, Luke Weel as assistant

The Blues opted to extend the talented half-back's tenure as coach after talks this week.

Harkness, who took the reins from dual premiership leaders Shane Threlfall and Shane Quick, guided Nirranda through pre-season but is yet to coach for premiership points due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Warrnambool and District league cancelled its senior seasons on June 24.

The desire to see plans translate to on-field success was the catalyst for his decision to re-sign.

"You lay down the plans and put in a full pre-season, and we were so close to actually getting out there to play," Harkness said.

"I know a few coaches have said the unfinished business things but we just never really got started with what we wanted to do.

"We've missed the mateship and the camaraderie and we're just really keen to see the boys back playing, enjoying the social side of things and winning a few games of footy."

Harkness predicted tougher recruiting and said player retention was a priority.

"That's a big priority for us, getting our players back on board," he said.

"Everyone is in the same boat. I can't speak for everyone obviously but we're all good and ready to go again.

"We're touching base with players. Recruiting might be a tough one with players having committed for 2020, they might be less likely to move on.

"It'll be a unique year recruiting wise. We'll do our best to add to what we've got."

Harkness was champing at the bit to return to pre-season training when restrictions eased.

Star defender Luke Weel will again be his deputy.

"It's a bit of deja vu for me, having started off last year and had the boys on board ready to go," he said.

"We're enthusiastic having had a full year off with no training or games and hopefully people are revitalised.

"I think it'll add a few years onto some playing careers. Hopefully everyone is firing and ready to go."

Blues vice president Tim Healey said Harkness and Weel's conduct pre-season sealed the decision.

He said the club was delighted to have "two players of Hampden league quality" at the helm.

"We were very, very impressed with the way they ran the pre-season," Healey said.

"They had things looking very good. (Brayden) seemed to be very organised in everything he was doing.

"Going back to last year when we appointed him, we went into the interview and the longer it went on, the more certain we were that he was the right person for the job."

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