Heath Younie will reunite with David Noble at Arden Street after accepting a role as North Melbourne assistant coach for the 2021 season and beyond.

A development manager at the Adelaide Crows since 2014, Younie focused on the management of players, coaches and football staff, and was also involved in the club’s finals campaigns in 2015-17.

The 41-year-old’s coaching career began at North Adelaide in the SANFL (2011-12) where he coached the U18’s.

He was development coach at the Crows for a season before becoming inaugural coach of their SANFL team (2014-16), leading the club to its first finals series in 2016.

North GM football Brady Rawlings said Younie will bring valuable experience to the coaching team.

“David and Heath know each other well from their time at Adelaide, so we have a great understanding of his capabilities and know exactly what he’ll bring to North,” he said.

“A teacher by trade, Heath’s professionalism and experience will be invaluable to us and he will be a great asset for our players.”

Younie was rookie-listed by West Coast in 1997 where he played for two seasons. He then signed with the Kangaroos in the VFL before joining North Adelaide in 2001, where he went on to play 183 SANFL games, was appointed vice-captain and won two best-and-fairest medals.