Bairnsdale Football Netball Club has landed its man, with former Port Melbourne and Sale ball magnet Shannen Lange signing on as senior coach for 2027 to head up a formidable, revamped football department for the Redlegs’ milestone 150th anniversary season.
The Redlegs are delighted to land a high-profile senior coach who lives in the region for the upcoming landmark year, marking a significant milestone for the Gippsland League’s furthest east side.
Lange played for Cowwarr in the North Gippsland Football Netball League in 2026, where he was awarded best on ground in the club’s historic premiership success.
That followed a decorated career in the VFL with Port Melbourne and five sensational years with Sale, where he won two Trood Award and Rodda Medals as the Gippsland League’s best and fairest, was named league MVP on three occasions, and earned permanent selection as ruck rover in the team of the year.
At Port Melbourne, he finished runner-up in the club best and fairest and placed fourth in the JJ Liston Trophy voting for the VFL best and fairest in 2019. Prior to his senior career, Lange played for Gippsland Power, serving as deputy vice captain alongside Tim Membrey in the 2012 side that finished the season as runners-up.
The Redlegs have long admired Lange’s ability from a distance and now look forward to tapping into his extensive experience, work rate and football smarts. He has consistently set a high standard on and off the field, and together with the Redlegs leadership group, he is ready to take Bairnsdale forward in 2027.
Lange’s senior appointment is bolstered by former West Coast and Geelong AFL star Scott Selwood, who joins the club as senior advisor to the football department for 2027. Selwood, a 169-game AFL player, 2012 John Worsfold Medallist, and former Collingwood development coach, will focus on game style development, coach mentoring and building high-performance standards.
The club has also locked in key coaching appointments across its junior and youth development pathways ahead of the 150th year.
Club legend James Gibbs will take charge of the under 18s in 2027 following his role assisting with the under 16s this year, providing a strong platform to develop the next generation of East Gippsland talent.
In addition, Shaun Mooney returns to the Redlegs family in a multi-faceted leadership role as head of junior development, head of the Bairnsdale youth development program, and under 16 coach for 2027, bringing a wealth of coaching experience and passion for creating clear pathways for emerging local players.
Pre-season training officially kicks off on Wednesday, November 4, with a pre-season induction at Bairnsdale City Oval commencing at 5pm, where Selwood will join the coaching group for night one.
