BRETT Fitzpatrick has already tasted some success as part of Bendigo Football-Netball League grand final week when he was named the region’s senior coach of the year on Wednesday night.

Fitzpatrick was announced the winner at the AFLCV Australian Football Coaches Association awards, which were held at the South Bendigo clubrooms.

Fitzpatrick is in his first season as coach of Sandhurst and has led the Dragons this Saturday into their first senior grand final since 2004.

The Dragons provided Fitzpatrick with a coaching second chance after he had been replaced at Castlemaine after last season.

Runner-up in the senior coach of the year was Kyneton’s Mark Adamson.

Adamson this year guided the Tigers in their return season in the BFNL senior competition.

The Tigers won six games and finished seventh.

The youth coach of the year was won by St Arnaud’s Alistair Egan, who coached the Saints’ under-16s, as well as the North Central Football League’s V/Line Cup and under-18 inter-league teams.

Runner-up was Calivil United under-17 premiership coach Andrew Wild.

The junior coach of the year was won by Boort under-13 coach Wayne Maxted ahead of Leitchville-Gunbower’s Matt Hawken and St Francis’ Chris Bolton.

And the female coach of the year was BJFL youth girls coach Alana Wearne.

Runner-up was Catholic College Bendigo youth girls coach Andrea Coughlan.