AFL Queensland today announced ex-AFL Coach Wayne Brittain as coach of the Queensland Australian Football League (QAFL) representative squad for 2017.
Brittain will lead the team against Western Australia Amateur League (WAAFL) at Broadbeach on Sunday June 11; a rematch of the 2016 clash that saw the WAAFL victorious by 14-points.
The Queensland Hall of Fame member was the first home-grown football identity to coach at senior AFL level when he took charge of Carlton in 2002.
Born in Melbourne, but a Queenslander from an early age, he played with Centrals Aloomba in Cairns and coached Windsor- Zillmere to premierships at Under 19 and Reserves levels before taking the Zillmere seniors to a memorable flag in 1988.
Brittain also had coaching success with Cairns, North Queensland and Queensland Country representative sides before being joining the Brisbane Bears as assistant-coach under Robert Walls in 1994-95 (and again under Michael Voss in 2008).
He quickly won a huge reputation for his knowledge and passion, and was lured to Carlton by David Parkin’s offer of a full-time assistant-coaching role, before taking the reins when Parkin retired.
State Football Operations Manager, Barry Gibson, said the signing was a major coup for Queensland’s state league.
“We are delighted that someone of Wayne’s calibre wanted to coach the team,” said Gibson.
“To attract an ex-AFL head coach speaks volumes for our representative program and its standing.
“Wayne’s experience will be fantastic for our players and we have no doubt he will lead the team exceptionally well.”
