A man with extensive VAFA and VFL playing and coaching experience, Luke Mahoney, has been appointed to Fitzroys senior coaching position for 2018.

Luke joins Fitzroy directly from the senior coaching role with Brunswick NOBSPC and is currently in Ireland as the Assistant Coach on the 2017 VAFA Ireland representative tour.

Speaking from Ireland after accepting the role, Luke said Im really excited to be offered the senior coaching position at Fitzroy. Having watched from afar, I have always had an enormous amount of respect for the club and its community aspect and history.

The main attraction to the club was the continued growth at both the mens and womens participation levels in the VAFA along with the huge numbers at the junior club.

The club has a great opportunity to bounce back and be the best we can be in 2018. I look forward to that challenge and meeting everyone on my return in late October.

Fitzroy President Joan Eddy welcomed Lukes appointment saying his strong understanding of the ethos of amateur football and his collaborative approach to bringing the whole club together were strengths that would benefit Fitzroy.

Luke played 290 games with North Old Boys, Williamstown in VFL and St Kevins Old Boys (SKOB), including as captain and premiership captain for SKOB in 2004 and several VAFA rep games. He won four best and fairest awards with the club.

At SKOB Luke had a number of coaching roles including Coaching Director in 2015 (an undefeated year when SKOB was promoted to Premier), Senior Assistant Coach (under Daniel Harford) in 2012-13, VAFA Premier B-D4 rep Assistant Coach 2014, Senior Coach with Brunswick NOBSPC in 2016 and 2017, winning VAFA Coach of the Year in Division 1 in his first year with the club. Lukes coaching career started as a playing assistant with SKOB and includes coaching his daughters Under 12 team at Moonee Valley.

The selection panel of Football Operations Director, Sharon Torney, Treasurer (and former Reds premiership captain) Michael Smale and recently retired Fitzroy senior player and vice-captain, Corbin Stevic, were thrilled with the calibre of a large pool of candidates but unanimously selected Luke as their first choice.