Tumut have landed on two men to fill Jarrad Teka’s boots.
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Dean Bristow and Adam Pearce have been announced as co-coaches for the 2018 season.
The two Blues have come through the club’s junior ranks and are thrilled to take over the coaching role after helping Tumut to the preliminary final last season.
Pearce returned to the Blues after five years with Queanbeyan Kangaroos to captain the club last season.
The 30-year-old is still living in Canberra and remains unsure of his plans.
At this stage he expects Bristow will take the hands on role on for Tuesday night training sessions before coming back on Fridays.
However he’s excited to take on the role.
“I can’t wait,” Pearce said.
“I’ve played for Tumut for a lot of years and it means a lot play for Tumut.”
Bristow said he answered the call after the Blues didn’t have a lot of luck searching for applicants for the role.
It’s an honour for the fullback.
“Just to play first grade for them was all I wanted to do when I was growing up and now to coach them is pretty special,” Bristow said.
He’s looking forward to combining with Pearce in the position as well.
“We’ve been best mates for a long time and it will be good both being first time coaches,” Bristow said.
“We will be able to help each other out and come up with a good plan together.”
Pearce is looking to bring his passion for the club into the role and is hoping it will help inspire the Blues junior base.
“I think the juniors coming through is what is going to help us and we have a lot of good local talent there,” he said.
Bristow is out to build on the improvements of last season.
The Blues went from wooden spooners to being one win away from the grand final in 2017.
The 28-year-old wants make sure they remain competitive.
“We made a huge step forward on and off the field last year and I want to continue to develop our good junior base and instill a good club culture, which was sort of brought back last year,” Bristow said.
“Results will take care of themselves but I just want to make the sure the boys are enjoying their footy and having a good time.
“We have a good enough squad to do it.”
Both emphasised the desire to focus on local talent and the Blues want to wait to see who is committing before looking further afield.
The only recruit from last season locked in to play on again is Dan Kilian.
It means Junee is only club yet to lock in a coach, but news out of the Diesels is expected soon.