2024 BFC SENIOR MENS COACHES

ANTHONY FAGAN

SENIOR HEAD COACH

– 108 Blackburn FC games (2012 – 2019)
– Blackburn FC Vice Captain
– Blackburn FC Captain (2016 – 2017)
– Blackburn FC – Ron Eade Senior B&F Medallist 2012
– Blackburn FC interim Coach 2015
– Player – TAC Cup – Geelong Falcons (Premiership)
– Player – VFL – Box Hill FC (Premiership)

– VFL Football Operations Manager – Richmond FC (2017 – 2020)
– VFL & AFLW Football Operations Manager – Richmond FC (2020 – 2022)

– AFL level 2 Coaching Qualifications
– AFL List Management & Football Operations Qualified
– AFL Sports ready Education & Employment
– Bachelor of Commerce & Sports Management

CHAD NEILSON

SENIOR DEFENSIVE LINE COACH

Chad played his junior footy with Mt Waverley JFC. After playing with the Oakleigh Chargers in his U18 year, he played the majority of his senior football with the East Burwood FC. From 1997 to 2005, Chad played over 150 games and was part of the 1999-2000 back to back senior premiership teams. At the end of 2005, Chad moved to Blackburn FC where he played till the end of 2008. He played one final year of senior football at the Heathcote FC in 2009 with his final game ending in another senior flag.

Chad has coached many junior football teams at Surrey Park JFC and also spent 6 years coaching as part of Wesley College’s Football Program, where he is also a teacher.

RYAN BATHIE

SENIOR FORWARD LINE COACH

Following a successful basketball career which culminated with the Melbourne Tigers in the NBL in 2010, Ryan was rookie drafted by the Geelong FC in 2011, and played 55 VFL games with the Cats from 2011 to 2013, including the 2012 VFL premiership.

Ryan then joined the Richmond VFL team in 2014, and played close to 50 games between 2014 – 2018. In 2017 Ryan signed with Blackburn, and played 59 senior games up until he retired at the end of 2022. During the week Ryan works with Touchstone Executive Search Australia as the Head of Research

PAUL HARTE

HEAD DEVELOPMENT COACH

Paul’s football career began playing with the East Doncaster Junior Football Club. From here he then proceeded to play at Fitzroy in the U19s which he captained in his top age year. He then played a number of games with the Fitzroy reserves. Paul then moved on to play in the VFA, with Preston (now the Northern Blues), before an early retirement.

Paul has a background as a P.E teacher, which has been of great value, since taking up a variety of coaching roles, beginning in 2008. He has been primarily involved at Blackburn, coaching from U9s through to U19s, having a number of very successful years, culminating with an U19 premiership in 2019. Paul also has experience as an assistant coach in the EFNL Interleague and recently he had a 3 year stint with Eastern Ranges in the TAC competition, as a forward and defensive line coach. During this time, Paul had the opportunity to help develop young talent moving into the AFL ranks, including our own Ryley Stoddart and Xavier O’Neill.

Paul has lived in Blackburn for 25years and has two boys, who have both played all of their junior and senior football at Blackburn.

JAMES DUNN

ASSISTANT DEVELOPMENT COACH

James (aka Brush’s) football journey started playing juniors at East Burwood where he played over 100 games. During that time, he represented the EFNL interleague squads and was captain in both the under 14s and under 15s.

Brush played school football at Wesley College and had stints playing with the Oakleigh Chargers and Eastern Ranges at under 18 level. After this time, he went on to play 4 seasons with Collegians in the VAFA.

After taking some time away from football to travel, Brush returned to play football at Blackburn in 2018. He was a member of a development side that didn’t lose a game 2-years post covid. Brush’s final game of football was the 2022 Reserves Grand Final win over Rowville where he spent the afternoon celebrating in hospital getting multiple stiches above his eye thus retiring on a high!

James lives with his partner Amy in Bayswater, and he currently works as a Primary School teacher in the outer east suburbs of Melbourne. With previous coaching experiences at Wesley College and a degree in Sport Development, he now has a keen eye on developing his coaching skills.

ASH BROWN

UNDER 19 HEAD COACH

Ash has lived in the eastern suburbs all his life, growing up in Doncaster before moving to Blackburn some 22years ago where he is currently living with wife Rochelle and three daughters Montana, Charli and Kyah.

Playing football as a junior from the age of 7 years right through to senior footy level where he played briefly at Doncaster before moving to Templestowe football club for approximately 12 years, with a stint of country footy in this period in the West Gippsland Football Netball League. Following his daughters in their netball journeys and enjoying just about any sport is time well spent, especially suburban footy and particularly the Burners.

Ash runs a small plumbing business based in Blackburn since 1996, servicing blackburn and surrounds since this time employing and training a number of young apprentices during this period.

COREY PATTERSON

U19 ASSISTANT COACH

Corey, aged 24, played most of his junior and senior footy at Blackburn, including being a member of the 2022 reserves premiership team.

In 2023 Corey was an assistant coach and runner for the U19 Reds development team and will continue as an U19 Development coach in 2024.

Outside of footy, Corey is a greenkeeper at Kew golf club.

DAVE COUPER

U19 DIV 3/4 (Reds) ASSISTANT COACH

Dave (Coups) is a Blackburn past player who played 115 senior games back in the 90s, and who has been a junior coach over many years before stepping up last year to assist the U19 Reds.

With his son Landen stepping up from the U17s in 2023, Coups has skin in the game, and is really passionate about developing our young players, and helping them on their journey to become the best players they can be.

Outside of footy Dave is a painter (buildings that is, not canvasses!!)

VASISH “VAS” VASAN

SENIOR HEAD TRAINER

Vasish graduated with Honours from Monash University with a Bachelor of Physiotherapy. 

Vasish has a strong passion for assessing and treating sporting and musculoskeletal injuries, which stems from his own experiences playing high level cricket and football. Vasish has previously treated athletes at Old Xavs SC (Women’s State 1) and Box Hill Rugby Union FC (Dewar Shield). Vasish continues to treat cricketers at Premier cricket level (enquire for cricket specific injury prevention program). Vasish also has trainer experience at AFL level.

Vasish enjoys empowering you to develop self-sustainable strategies with your health with the use of elite exercise rehabilitation. Vasish loves being active and wants everyone to seamlessly enjoy moving just as much as he does.

He is an accredited ImPACT trained Concussion Physiotherapist.

MARCUS KRYGGER

FITNESS & CONDITIONING COORDINATOR

Marcus is the current Strength & Conditioning Manager for the St. Kilda FC, and came to the Burners in 2019. Marcus’s key role is providing Fages with a pre-season training program, devising personal training programs for players away from the club and rehab programs for injured players.