Pies name Sanderson as AFL assistant coach

Collingwood have appointed former Adelaide coach Brenton Sanderson as an AFL assistant as part of their football department restructure.

Sanderson, who coached the Crows for three seasons before being sacked at the end of 2014, will oversee the Magpies’ forward line and ball movement.

“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,” Magpies football manager Graeme Allan said on Thursday.

Sanderson has spent the past two years overseeing the development of elite teenage footballers as head coach of the AFL national academy.

The 42-year-old played 209 AFL games at Geelong, Collingwood and Adelaide before starting his coaching career at Port Adelaide.

Sanderson joins Robert Harvey (backline) and Scott Burns (midfield) as assistants serving under head coach Nathan Buckley, following the dismissal of incumbents Ben Hart and Steve Grace.

Collingwood’s restructure also included the appointment of Allan as head of football, replacing Neil Balme, who has since joined Richmond.

The announcement came despite Allan being one of three subjects of an AFL investigation into allegations Greater Western Sydney player Lachie Whitfield tried to avoid drug testers.

Collingwood said Allan had told the club about the probe, which relates to his time at GWS, prior to his recruitment and there had been no reason not to employ him.

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