The Fighting Miners' new leader Steve Dockrey has decades of experience as both a player and coach.
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He first stepped onto the field as an 8-year-old in his native NSW and took on his first coaching position when he was only 15.
"I coached in Sydney until I was 29 and then moved to Melbourne where I continued coaching," Dockrey said.
Dockrey, 69, moves to the head coaching position after a year as assistant coach of the Miners in 2019.
He will take over the role from Dave McDonald, who this year will play a key role with the team's senior leadership group.
"I've empowered the senior players who all have a lot of experience on the field and have played representative rugby," Dockrey said.
"Their jobs are to mentor the younger players and will have a key group of guys they work with each week."
The senior leadership group includes McDonald, Matt Boyle and Ryan Spedding.
They will have integral roles at training sessions while Dockrey will focus on the development of game plans and strategies.
"I was with the team last year and know a bit about the sides we played. I have the knowledge of where we went wrong, but also where we went right."
The Miners were knocked out of the Rugby Victoria Championship division finals after a valiant performance against the league's minor premiers, the Shepparton Bulls during the semi-final, scores 28-24.
Senior Miners player Spedding said the team did well in what was a "trying season" for the club.
"There were a couple of games in hindsight we should've won which we only lost by a couple of points," he said.
"However, we still made the semi-final against the league's top team and we only lost by four points.
"We surprised a lot of people with how far we pushed Shepparton in the semi-final."
The Miners recently announced their annual awards, with Phil Keech taking out the coveted Dyett Medal
"Phil has been one of our longest standing players, he started with the club in June 2011," Spedding said.
"He was consistent throughout the year, played almost every game. A solid back-line player with a strong running game."
2019 Award winners
- Dyett Medal (best player) Phil Keech
- Ward Trophy (players player): David McDonald
- Cahill Trophy (R/up best player): Matthew Boyle
- The Advertiser trophy (most consistent): David McDonald
- Ihaka Trophy (best new player): David Gudge
- Most Improved: Nafetalai (Mau) Li
- Alan Newton Trophy (best clubman): Jakeb Sheahan
- Sione Uhi (most tries): Jeremy Lingen 9 tries
- Sonny Bates medal (most points): David McDonald 101 points
Another celebration for the Miners in 2020 is marking the club's 50th season.
"There are celebration plans already underway," Spedding said.
"Everyone is excited for the prospect of another strong season and we all can't wait to see where we can take it."
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