North Launceston's succession of ready-made leaders continues with the coaching appointment of Brad Cox-Goodyer.
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Set to reach 200 games this year, Cox-Goodyer was promoted from vice-captain to captain at the conclusion of a 2017 season that saw him win Alastair Lynch, Darrel Baldock, premiership and Jack Hill medals.
The 27-year-old took the coaching reins from Taylor Whitford on December 1 and has since set to work preparing the playing group for 2021.
"It's a massive honour," Cox-Goodyer said of the new role.
"The club's got a pretty rich history, especially recently, so I'm massively honoured to take on the job and hopefully I can do it justice."
Cox-Goodyer and Whitford have shared plenty in the past decade, not least being two of only three Bombers to have played in all five flags between 2014 and 2019.
The pair have also ascended North's leadership ladder together, with Cox-Goodyer first developing a passion for coaching when Whitford succeeded 2017 flag coach Tom Couch.
"It probably started when Taylor first got the job," the former Brooks High student said.
"We played a lot of footy together as just players and then he stepped up to the role and I said 'I could probably do that as well' and took an interest and over the last three years I've got my level two and I took an assistant job last year and it fell into place this year.
"Taylor played junior football at North Launceston and I played junior football at North Launceston so [the club's] ability to develop our own is pretty strong when you look at it like that.
"To be able to grow your coaches within your junior program is something to be pretty proud of - hopefully we can continue that and if we're growing our own we're doing something right."
Cox-Goodyer's appointment comes at a crucial time for the Bombers with Whitford joining Josh Ponting, Jackson Callow, Sherrin Egger and Connor Young among those exiting UTAS Stadium in the off-season.
The continued development of young stars such as Tom Donnelly and Ben Simpson appears crucial to the Bombers continuing their streak of seven straight grand final appearances.
"These guys that have played in three premierships, their bodies are starting to really mature into men now and they've had a really good off-season as well because they don't stop," Cox-Goodyer said.
"[Simpson and Donnelly] stick out ... they're ready for good senior football and hopefully they're the ones that break out and become stars of the competition."
Cox-Goodyer said sustained success and developing people, not just players, summarised his vision for the club.
"Everyone's got their own ideas of how that happens, but if the result continues to be success on the field and off the field developing our juniors, I think we're doing a good job.
"[But] it's something you can't rest on your laurels with - if you get complacent, that's when you lose touch with it."
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Hamish Geale
Hamish Geale is a senior reporter at The Examiner. Got good news? Email: hgeale@examiner.com.au
Hamish Geale is a senior reporter at The Examiner. Got good news? Email: hgeale@examiner.com.au
