The Collingwood Football Club has finalised its full-time senior coaching panel with the appointment of Brenton Sanderson as assistant coach.

Sanderson brings a wealth of coaching experience to the group, having held senior and assistant coaching roles at various AFL clubs and completed two years as head coach of the AFL National Academy where he worked closely with the country’s most talented teenagers.

Sanderson arrives at the Holden Centre as part of a football department revamp, joining Robert Harvey and Scott Burns as the three men to stand side by side with senior coach Nathan Buckley in 2017.

Harvey will lead the backline and oversee team defence, Burns is charged with the midfield and stoppages, while Sanderson will look after the forward line and ball movement.

Sanderson enjoyed a long and decorated career as a player that spanned over 200 games, including a short stint at Collingwood, before embarking on his coaching career which began at Port Adelaide Football Club as an assistant coach.

He then returned to Geelong, where he played the bulk of his career, and played a role in the side’s 2007 and 2009 premierships as assistant coach before securing a senior coaching role with Adelaide Crows in 2011.

“Brenton brings with him a rich football background as both a player and coach and we feel he’s an outstanding fit for our coaching panel in 2017 and beyond,” GM Football Graeme Allan said.

“His diverse experience across senior and assistant coaching roles and his recent role in the development of the country’s brightest young talents through the AFL National Academy makes him a valuable asset for our emerging team.”