How Taylor Whitford and Zane Littlejohn went from North Launceston old boys to VFL coaching rivals

Whitford, 30, has taken over as senior coach of reigning premiers Casey Demons.

Littlejohn, 36, is the new coach of Box Hill Hawks.

And when the clubs meet next year, the football journeys of two young men from Tasmania will take a happy twist.

They will be rival coaches. But go back a few years and they were together at North Launceston, Whitford as captain and Littlejohn as coach, both on the dais in 2015 with the premiership cup.

The Bombers won two premierships under Littlejohn.

They won two more under Whitford.

Both were schoolteachers before pursuing full-time roles in football. Both are getting glowing notices as they climb the coaching ranks at AFL clubs.

“Yeah, we’ve got a pretty strong connection from our days at North Launceston,’’ Whitford says.

“It was pretty funny when they (the coaching appointments) were coming up. Zane told me he was taking the Box Hill job when I was in the midst of taking the Casey job.

“We’ve known each other quite a while now and we’ve always stayed in touch. We both love footy and we are obviously going down the same path. It’s good to have that relationship to bounce off a few ideas and talk to someone going through something similar.’’

Whitford’s father, Chris, was coaching North Launceston when Littlejohn arrived at the club in 2009.

The Latrobe product known as ‘Wombat’ had played with the Tassie Devils when they were in the VFL.

Littlejohn’s eagerness to coach was apparent when he took on the North Launceston Colts in 2010 and won a premiership.

Retiring as a player at the age of 24, he became the Bombers’ senior coach in 2012 and stayed until the end of 2016.

It was a period of success for North: there were Tasmania State League premierships in 2014 and ’15 and a grand final appearance in 2016, Glenorchy denying coach and club a three-peat.

It led Littlejohn, at age 30, to land a development role with the Brisbane Lions in 2017.

He stayed with the Lions and built a good reputation until Hawthorn came calling a few weeks ago. The Box Hill Hawks VFL coaching position is part of his duties with the AFL Hawks.

“He was brilliant at North Launceston,’’ Whitford says.

“He brought in a really professional environment to a state league club that probably needed a little bit of a shake-up at the time.

“We’re both educators and developers of players and people, so his philosophies and mine were pretty close. We worked pretty well together.’’

Whitford describes himself as a “North Launceston person through and through’’.

At 18, he set out for the SANFL, having one year with South Adelaide.

When he returned to the Bombers in 2013, Littlejohn was coach. Whitford became his captain in 2015 and assumed the senior coaching from former AFL player Tommy Couch ahead of 2018.

His three years brought the Bombers the 2018 and ’19 premierships and a grand final berth in 2020.

Like Littlejohn, Whitford was keen to expand his coaching experience.

Melbourne recruiter Todd Patterson, also from Tasmania, opened a door for him at Casey and in 2021, he joined the Demons as a senior assistant for the VFL program. He also chipped in at Melbourne one day a week.

The past two seasons haven’t all been work for him. Whitford – described by North Launceston president Thane Brady as an “absolutely exceptional player’’ in Tasmania – played locally with Altona whenever Casey had no Saturday engagements.

This year, he celebrated two flags in two days, with Altona on the Saturday and Casey Demons on the Sunday.

“Obviously I’m not that old. I can still move around OK and still enjoy playing,’’ Whitford says.

“It wasn’t a bad weekend, that one.’’

When Demons coach Mark Corrigan decided to join Geelong’s coaching panel a few weeks after the grand final, Melbourne promoted his understudy to the senior role.

Casey high performance manager Jack McLean has also become a full-time staff member at Melbourne.

Whitford says the Casey-Melbourne alignment is strong – “there’s a connection between the playing groups, there’s a connection between the staff’’ – and so is the competition.

“The connection with the AFL makes it a really professional environment and the standard’s high,’’ he says.

“It’s a good mix. You’ve got guys who are starting their careers and guys who are potentially on the other end of their careers, and that’s within alignments and stand-alones.

“I think the influx of teams from (the NEAFL) has only enhanced the comp as well. I’m really excited to be part of it. I’m indebted to the club for giving me the opportunity, as well as the opportunity to work alongside the Melbourne program and ‘Goody’ (Simon Goodwin), Mark Williams and Adem Yze and the likes. I’ve just tried to put myself out there and learn as much as I can as I’m going.’’

He was grateful, too, for the chance to follow his father’s path and coach North Launceston.

Brady says the Bombers are thrilled to see Littlejohn and Whitford ascending the coaching ranks.

“It gives you a great level of satisfaction,’’ he says.

“They both worked very hard and they made sacrifices. They had to leave the state, take their families and move everything to try to achieve their goals.’’

He says Littlejohn pushed through a lot of young players and in 2014, they were at the heart of the club’s first flag in 16 years.

He has maintained his link with the Bombers, taking the time to message youngsters selected for their first games.

“Zane connects with so many people; he’s a natural leader and a great teacher. I’m certainly not surprised he’s been given this opportunity,’’ Brady says of the North Launceston life member.

He says Whitford is a “thinker of the game and a driven individual’’.

“Same with Zane … when he was with us, he focused on the kids,’’ Brady says.

The president believes the Bombers could well produce another VFL coach in 28-year-old Brad Cox-Goodyer, the TSL best and fairest in 2017.

“He’s an absolute guru,’’ Brady declares.

“In the 14 years I’ve been president, he’s the best communicator we’ve had. You might hear a bit more about him.’’

As for the young old boys from North Launceston facing off in 2023, Whitford says he will indeed be quick to scan the draw for the Casey-Box Hill game next year.

“It will be the one I’ll look for first and see where we’re playing,’’ he says.

“It would be really nice to play them at Casey Fields!’’

What they said

Departing Hawthorn GM of VFL and VFLW Daniel Napoli on Zane Littlejohn

“Zane sees the game really well and has had experience coaching his own side at state league level. He is also a qualified teacher who has a demonstrated ability to develop athletes into better players and people. Aside from his impressive resume, Zane also brings a great enthusiasm and energy, along with a genuine love for the game.”

Melbourne GM of football operations Marcus Wagner on Taylor Whitford

“After a thorough process, we had no hesitation in offering Taylor the senior coaching role, with his coaching philosophy, character and values shining through. Taylor has worked in our men’s VFL program for the past two seasons, while also working with our AFL program on main training days, so has built some really strong relationships with the playing groups. This appointment is a testament to the work Taylor has put in since arriving at Casey. We anticipate a seamless transition for the program.’’