WIMMERA duo Shayne Breuer and Jaye Macumber will help bring the next generation of football talent through the ranks after being appointed to development coaching positions with North Ballarat Rebels.
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Macumber will serve as squad coach for Wimmera under-18 TAC Cup players, taking them through their pre-season training and evaluating talent in the region throughout the year.
Breuer will also take a coaching position, heading the Rebels’ under-16 development squad in 2014.
Both squads will comprise 25 junior players and the Rebels will select players from the under-18 squad to form a team before the start of the season.
The Rebels will have 145 players from Victorian development squads to choose from.
AFL Victoria Ballarat region manager Phil Partington said the Rebels were delighted to have the two highly-credentialed coaches join their ranks.
“We’re excited to have two development coaches like them within the Rebels’ ranks to guide some of the junior players through their journey,” he said.
“There’s some really good names there and the Wimmera is a really good heartland for AFL football. We hope these boys continue that legacy.”
Macumber and Breuer have extensive experience as players and coaches within the AFL system.
Macumber coached and played football in Canada, eventually serving as head coach of the Canadian football team in 2011.
Since returning to Australia, he has coached at Victorian Amateur Football Association sides Hampton Rovers and South Melbourne and spent this year at his junior club Horsham Saints.
Breuer played AFL football for Geelong and Port Adelaide before turning to coaching.
He coached Horsham District Football League side Kalkee to a grand final in 2007.
Macumber said he had always enjoyed developing young players and bringing out the best in them.
“Helping someone play the game to the best of their ability is something I’m passionate about,” he said.
“I think the Rebels suited my goals with my footy because you’re trying to get them to do the basic stuff right and get them to understand that things are professionally run nowadays.
“You’ve got to put in a bit of extra hard work and hopefully that’s where I can help these guys take it to that next level.”
Macumber said there were up to seven under-18 players who were ‘almost certainties’ to make the Rebels team, while there were several others who could make it with hard work.
The Rebels will start testing Wimmera players on November 18 at St Brigid’s College from 5pm.
