Sport
12 February, 2026
Coaching connection bringing AFL chief to launch
AFL CHIEF Andrew Dillon will make a rare Loddon Valley football appearance when he attends Inglewood’s 150th season launch next month.
His appearance was organised by Inglewood’s new assistant coach Ian Aitken, who coached Dillon at Old Xaverians in the VAFA competition.
The launch at Inglewood Town Hall will follow a practice match between the Woodies and Hepburn Springs, and Dillon will address the crowd before taking questions.
Aitken, 59, a Carlton premiership player in 1987, has joined the Woodies after a long and successful coaching career around Victoria.
Rather than being chased by Inglewood, Aitken phoned the club to offer his services after his son Charlie decided to join from West Preston.
Charlie is best mates with Inglewood star Bregon Cotchett, who was club best-and-fairest and was named captain of the Loddon Valley Team of the Year last season.
“Charlie said he might go up and play with Bregon, so I said I might go there and help coach,” Aitken told the Loddon Herald.
“I approached the club and said my son’s looking to play with Bregon, I’m going to be coming up, and I may as well help out.
“And they were very happy.”
Aitken coached Cotchett during 2024 when he played with West Preston before returning to Inglewood last year.
Essentially, Aitken will take on the role of match-day off-field coach, working with newly appointed playing coach Jackson Hood.
“You’ve just got to build a good rapport and understand your roles,” he said.
“I’ll send the runner out to him at times and say this is what I’m thinking, and other times just make the move.”
Aitken is taking training with the club’s Melbourne-based players in this pre-season at Glenferrie Oval but will come to Inglewood for a training camp later in February and for the 2026 launch.
The veteran coach said Inglewood’s 150th anniversary played a big part in his decision to join Inglewood.
‘I like nostalgia, and not only the fact that they are celebrating the 150th anniversary – in 1886 they played a couple of games in the VFA against Carlton and Melbourne,” he said.
“That’s something that tickled my fancy, and the country vibe is something I like.”
- GARY WALSH