TALENTED key forward Luke Gestier will coach Collingullie-Glenfield Park next year.
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The Demons unveiled Gestier as their new captain-coach at Crossroads Oval on Thursday night with the 26-year-old to replace Brett Lenon next year.
Gestier has spent the last three seasons in the Ovens and Murray League but is no stranger to the Riverina having grown up at Turvey Park and Wagga Tigers.
The new role will be Gestier’s first coaching appointment and he cannot wait to get started.
“I’m very excited, I’ve obviously decided to move back and I’m pretty pumped about it,” Gestier said.
“I’ve always been keen (to coach) but playing down in the O&M, I didn’t know when I would get the chance.
“It’s always been in the pipeline and now I’m at the right age and everything has fallen into place.”
Gestier was a big signing at Lavington this year but did his anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in the opening round against Albury.
Before that, he spent two years at Corowa-Rutherglen where he kicked 99 goals.
Since leaving Wagga Tigers in 2009, he also played at VFL club Coburg and Goulburn Valley League club Rochester.
Gestier, an athletic centre-half-forward, hopes to return from his knee injury by round one next year.
“I’m going to be doing everything now to get myself up and about,” he said.
“I’ll play it by ear but right now I want to be back playing by round one.”
Gestier said player retention will be his first assignment at Collingullie, while professionalism off the field will be one of his main goals.
Lenon, who led the Demons to a premiership in his first year as coach, is happy to step aside for Gestier.
“It’s probably been two of the most enjoyable years of my footy career,” Lenon said.
“I’ve enjoyed it unbelievably and that’s due to the cattle I’ve had to work with the the boys around me. They have made it so much fun.”
Club president Glenn Crane is‘very excited’ by the appointment.
The Demons have won the last two Riverina League premierships and are currently sixth on the ladder, but making a late season charge, for a third consecutive flag.