Geelong assistant coach Brendan McCartney has long been seen as an exceptional coach, and now it is official.

The long serving McCartney has been named as the AFL’s assistant coach of the year by the AFL coaches association.

McCartney has been a fixture on the Cats coaching panel since coming to Skilled Stadium ahead of the 2000 season. In the ensuing 11 seasons McCartney has helped develop some of the best players in club history and been a key to two premiership campaigns.

After two seasons as Richmond reserves coach, McCartney was lured to Geelong by senior coach Mark Thompson. Before his stint at Punt Road, McCartney had led Ocean Grove to four Bellarine League premierships. He got his coaching start as Newtown reserves coach in 1990.

McCartney was a finalist in Port Adelaide’s hunt for a new coach this season, with the Power ultimately appointing Matthew Primus to the role.