Bernie Dinneen returns to coach the Eagles

The Marcellin Old Collegians Football Club is excited to announce the appointment of Bernie Dinneen as our Senior Mens Head Coach.

A name that is very familiar in Marcellins history, Bernie has had an outstanding career as both a player and as a coach. In his time at Marcellin he won three league Best and Fairests in a five year span, starting off by claiming the GT Moore Medal (Premier B) in 1998 before winning the JN Woodrow Medal (Premier) in back-to-back years in 2001 and 2002. Over his time in the maroon and blue Bernie won three premierships in 1997 (C Grade), 1998 (B Grade) and 2001 (A Grade), and was influential in the most successful period of the clubs history.

Following his Eagles career Bernie moved to Vermont, where the success only continued as he won the Chandler Medal (Premier Division) in back-to-back seasons in 2005 and 2006, including winning a premiership in 2006.

He joined Bayswater in 2009 as a player/coach, which saw the team make finals in both 2009 and 2010 where he took out another league best and fairest. He then served as the Head Coach of East Ringwood from 2011 to 2013 before returning to Vermont where he became a 300 game player in 2015 and served as their Senior Assistant Coach until the end of 2017.

Bernie returned to the VAFA at the end of the 2017 season where he joined Old Trinity as their Senior Head Coach in the Premier Division, in which he led the team to a Preliminary Final in his first season at the helm. He departed from Old Trinity midway through 2021, after which he joined St Bernards as a Senior Assistant Coach until the end of the 2022 season. Recently Bernie has been the Football Director back at Vermont, where they made the Premier Grand Final in 2023. Bernie has also more recently served as a player/coach for our Bald Eagles, guiding them to their recent Grand Final appearance.

Although Bernie has still remained a part of the Marcellin community through the Baldies we are excited for him to join in the role of Senior Mens Head Coach and help develop and strengthen our men’s football program. We also welcome his partner Tiff and two children, Charlotte and Patrick, as we welcome them into our Senior Mens community.

If you are keen to learn how you can join the Eagles, contact us at admin@marcellinocfc.com.au or fill out our online sign-up form at www.cutt.ly/mocfc. All ages and abilities welcome!