The Brisbane Lions have finalised their coaching structure for the 2017 season.

Senior Coach Chris Fagan’s team will include four assistants – Danny Daly, Murray Davis, Ben Hudson and Dale Tapping.

Daly will assume the new role of Football Strategy Coach, Davis will take responsibility for the backline, while Hudson will cover the forwards and ruck.

Tapping, who has joined the Lions from Collingwood where he was 2016 VFL Coach of The Year, will take on the role of midfield coach, assisted by long-time Lions player Jed Adcock, who returns to the Club after a final season playing at the Western Bulldogs.

In the development area, Scott Borlace has been promoted to Head of Development (and Training Coordinator), while Mitch Hahn will become the Club’s new NEAFL Coach.

New Development Coaches are Paul Henriksen (Assistant AFL backs, and NEAFL backs coach) and Zane Littlejohn (Assistant AFL Forwards, and NEAFL forwards coach).

Henriksen joins the Lions from Victoria where he was the Head Coach of the U18 Vic Country State Academy (winners of the 2015 National Champions) and has been employed as a Physical Education Teacher at Terang College since 1998.

Littlejohn coached North Launceston to premierships in the Tasmanian State League in 2014-15, having played 50 senior games of football before retiring early to focus on a coaching career with the ultimate aim of working full time in the AFL system.

General Manager of Football David Noble said the coaching group would work collaboratively and with a renewed energy to improve the performance on and off the field.

Noble said there will be a focus on developing stronger relationships between the senior and development coaching groups, producing a more cohesive environment for football staff and the playing group.

“We’re looking forward to providing our young playing list with a professional environment to continue their development towards elite standards,” said Noble.

“The new structure will also give our coaching staff a better career pathway through improved alignment of the way they work.

“We believe this coaching group has what it takes to see the Club move forward and become more relevant in the AFL landscape.”

Former coaches Gary O’Donnell, Shane Woewodin and Leigh Harding have all moved on from the Club over recent months, and have been thanked for all their hard work and service over a number of years.

2017 Coaching Structure

Assistant Coaches

Development Coaches

2017 AFL Fixture: