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

HEAD DEVELOPMENT 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.

ASH BROWN

U19 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.

GLEN WHITEHEAD

U19 ASSISTANT COACH

Bio not yet received.

BRAD GAUNT

U19 ASSISTANT COACH

Bio not yet received.

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.

DARREN BLEWITT

STRENGTH & REHABILITATION TRAINER

Darren has been involved with the Burners for over 10 years, firstly as a runner and assistant coach in the Juniors, and then for the past 4 years voluntarily working with the senior players with their recovery, injury rehab and extra strength and conditioning during the home & away seasons. He has worked at the Fighters Factory in Blackburn for 15 years, running classes and working as a personal trainer, and has more recently become involved with the local F45 Training Centre.

This year Darren has officially joined the Mens coaching team, and will work regularly with players during both the pre-season and season proper in all areas of their physical wellbeing.