ROYAL NAMED AFL VIC METRO COACH

FORMER AFL assistant coach and Western Bulldogs Team of the Century rover Brian Royal has been named coach of AFL Victoria’s Metropolitan representative side for 2014.

Royal will lead a team made up of the best metro players, including some from the EFL, selected from the representative football triple header involving the six metropolitan competitions to be played on 29 March at Visy Park.

The team will face the WorkSafe AFL Victoria Country’s No.1 team to be coached by Hawthorn legend Peter Knights.

It will be the first time in more than 20 years that the best players from country and metro Victoria come face to face.

AFL Victoria Metropolitan Football Manager Michael Daniher said the appointment of Royal to the new representative coaching role is a coup for the metro versus country game, and for the players selected.

“Brian brings with him vast experience at AFL level as an assistant coach, which will benefit our metropolitan side,” Daniher said.

“It is great to be able to provide the same representative opportunities for metro players that their country counterparts have enjoyed for a number of years, with the game set to showcase the best players at community football level in Victoria.”

Royal has spent two decades in the AFL system as an assistant coach, with stints at Western Bulldogs, Richmond, St Kilda and most recently Melbourne.

The Vic Metro coach was interviewed on SEN by Kevin Hiller, Mark Stone and Paul Amy on Monday night. Listen below.