COLLINGWOOD VFL coach Dale Tapping has been tapped for an interstate role.

Tapping, the VFL coach of the year in 2016 after steering the Pies to 12 consecutive wins and the preliminary final, has joined the Brisbane Lions as midfield coach.

He told coaching colleagues and his players of his decision on the weekend.

Tapping coached Collingwood’s VFL team for four seasons, achieving finals in each of them.

He’d also guided Sandringham Dragons to the TAC Cup premiership in 2011.

Tapping and new Brisbane general manager of football David Noble played together at Prahran in the early 1990s.

Collingwood may consider promoting development coach Jared Rivers to the VFL position.

Box Hill Hawks (Chris Newman), Essendon (Paul Corrigan) and Footscray (Steve Grace) also have new VFL coaches, and Sandringham has a shortlist of candidates to replace Paul Hudson.