WANGARATTA will be led by one of the league’s youngest coaches next season.
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Englishman Connor Heffernan will take over from Ivo Madeira as the Red Devils look to improve on their sixth-place finish last season.
The 24-year-old will receive plenty of assistance from Madeira and fellow former coach Mario Antonello.
Antonello said Heffernan would be a good fit for the club as it looks to re-establish itself as one of the league's best.
“We've been looking for someone who can build on what we've started over the last couple of years,” he said.
Connor is a quality individual, he's only been here a year but you could see how much the loss to Myrtleford in the finals meant to him.
- Mario Antonello
“We've been building a strong brand of football, but we also want to maintain the direction the club is taking off the field.
“We didn't want to appoint someone from outside the club necessarily, or even someone who was too far from the playing group.
“We wanted someone who could stay on the path we started down, but who could also bring some fresh eyes to it.
“Connor was the perfect fit.”
Heffernan was unlucky not to have played more senior matches this season.
He was often squeezed out by fellow visa players Adam Burchell and, controversially, Stoycho Ivanov.
Ivanov's status as a visa player was quashed by the AWFA appeals tribunal mid-way through the season, only to be re-instated in the lead-up to the finals.
But with Burchell set to return to England after the Italians vs All-Stars charity exhibition match on October 29, Heffernan should play the bulk of the season.
“It's all happened very quickly, but Connor has definitely got the respect of the playing group,” Antonello said.
“By having him there, guys are going to want to come and play for him.
“He's a high-quality player, but he's also an elite individual around the club, you won't meet too many like him.
“He's only been here a year but you could see how much the loss to Myrtleford in the finals meant to him.
“I'd say he's probably got a bit of unfinished business.
“When we were at out best last season we could match it with anybody, but our worst was pretty ordinary.
“We're just after a bit of stability next season, hopefully we can climb a few spots.”
After their sixth-place finish in the league championship, the Red Devils won their quarter-final before a tough loss to Myrtleford on penalties in the semi-finals.
