FORMER Magpie Tarkyn Lockyer has been appointed as the NAB AFL Academy's head coach, leaving his current role at Collingwood to take on the job at AFL headquarters.

Lockyer, who has been the head of Collingwood's Academy since 2017, will depart the Holden Centre and begin in his new position at the AFL later this month as the national talent coach.

Clubs were informed of the appointment on Monday, with Lockyer replacing Luke Power in the post, after the three-time Brisbane Lions premiership player joined Carlton as a development coach.

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Lockyer will oversee the national Academy program, which includes the revamped state 'hubs' system, which was in its first iteration in 2019 and saw state Academy programs boosted.

He will also coach in the Australian under-18 and under-17s sides in their representative games at the beginning of next season.

Taj Schofield, Zachary Dumesny, Kaine Baldwin, Riley Thilthorpe, Jye Sinderberry, Luke Edwards and Corey Durdin at the U17 jumper presentation. Picture: AFL Photos



The 40-year-old has had a long history at Collingwood, where he played 227 games having risen off the rookie list.

He took over the reins of the Magpies' VFL side after retiring at the end of 2010, before moving into the midfield development coach role ahead of the 2013 season but another shift as Academy coach where he's overseen the growth of the new additions at the club.

He will follow the likes of Power, former Adelaide coach Brenton Sanderson and Sydney great Michael O'Loughlin as steering the Academy group.