Flurry of South West Football League moves triggers off-season merry-go-round as six coaches land gigs

Before the dust even really settled on another South West Football League season, a flurry of coaching moves caused the dominoes to fall and all but one club have secured a coach for next season. It means at least six of the 10 clubs will have a new man at the helm next season, including a colts graduate, reserves graduate, and a 23-year-old — believed to be the youngest senior coach in league history. Augusta-Margaret River Retained: Matt Jamieson In a move that will surprise very few, Augusta-Margaret River’s freshly crowned premiership coach has signed up for another crack at a flag. Matt Jamieson’s re-signing was confirmed by the Hawks last week, nearly two months after he led the club to its first premiership in a decade. It remains to be seen how many of the key pillars that took them to the top this season are retained for the next, but with a strong base of local players, it is likely little reshaping will be required over the summer as they prepare for another tilt. Bunbury Likely to be retained: Jamie Nani While the Bulldogs are yet to formally announce Nani will coach again next season, the impression is that for the legendary player and two-time premiership coach, the ball is in his court. A semifinal loss in which injuries meant they were no chance of reeling in a Hawks lead and a preliminary final where they caught Busselton at their very best was all that stood between them and another grand final appearance in 2021. Despite the huge turnover from the side that won a premiership just over 12 months ago, a tight, core group of experienced heads and elite talent remain and if Nani was to remain at the helm, their premiership window is still well and truly ajar. Busselton Out: Dave Lewis In: Daniel Delaney After two years and two grand final appearances yielding no premiership success, Dave Lewis’ time at Busselton is up. The impressive league coach who made a profound impact at Bovell Park parted ways with the club at the end of the season, making way for premiership winning colts coach Daniel Delaney to take over. Delaney has been an important figure at the Magpies for a period of time and his graduation from colts coach to the top job was the easy and logical answer when a vacancy arose. Having previously overseen part of the development of draft prospects James Tunstill and Jye Amiss, Delaney is likely to have few issues garnering respect with the senior players, but will be pivotal in the regeneration of the league side with colts players making the step up. Harris Craig, Jye Spowarth, Jack Brockliss and Mack Candy are among Delaney pupils we can expect to see more of at senior level. Carey Park Retained: Brett Maguire The Panthers showed real signs of improvement during the 2021 season and as a result, Brett Maguire’s coaching future was secured even before the end of the season. It gives him another year to continue working with a squad rich with young talent. The first year coach brought his son Ethan with him to the club at the start of the season, with the gun midfielder winning the club’s best and fairest award. Collie Eagles Out: Seth White In: Kade East The Collie Eagles have appointed their youngest ever coach, with former assistant coach Kade East to take the top job from Seth White. The switch looks set to mark a distinct change in direction for the club, with the new coach already pledging to back in local talent with the loss of at least one big name import. Despite his tender age, East commands plenty of respect from the playing group he says have been a “pretty big part” of his life, and will bring a fresh perspective to a group that has been around the mark but never quite cut it in recent seasons. Their may be a trough awaiting Collie for the next season or two as their list regenerates but the pieces are there for them to be pushing for finals again soon. Donnybrook Out: Julian Burgess In: Shane Bolton Julian Burgess’ remarkable tenure as Donnybrook coach came to an end this season, with the responsibility of leading a rebuilding group handed over to two-time premiership player Shane Bolton. Moving to his former club’s top job from a coaching stint at the Preston Thunder youth teams, Bolton’s focus will be on the future, something Burgess had already made a start on. “We want to see these kids stay in footy for longer and hopefully when they do stick around, they’re developing and enjoying their football journey,” Bolton told the South Western Times in October. Eaton Boomers Retained: Darren Rigby This season’s wooden spooners are backing in their man to continue their path back towards the top five. It might have been easy with experienced premiership coaches on the market to jump ship, but sticking with Rigby was the right and responsible decision for the Boomers as Mitch Kings, Jordan Falco and the club’s young guns look to lead them back up the ladder. Harv-Bruns-Lesch Out: John Baggetta In: Ryan Macintyre After a second consecutive straight sets exit from the finals series, the Lions and legendary premiership coach John Baggetta parted ways, paving the way for the reserves premiership coach to take over. The Lions will be looking to rebuild their side on the run, with a number of fresh faces being injected in a side that battled injuries and adversity to still make finals. After five years in the reserves ranks, Macintyre was a surprise pick for the league job, but for a side attempting to rebuild on the run, hiring from within seems an astute move. The new coach said arresting the club’s poor finals form would be priority number one. “I think we have the right side to do it, but it is a matter of putting the right things in place to make that happen,” Macintyre said. Harvey Bulls Out: Ned Fimmano/Alan Douglas In: Mark Pink The shock resignation of Alan Douglas in the middle of the season brought to an abrupt end to what was an impressive recruiting spree by the second-year coach, but the experienced gained in even just a few short months under Ned Fimmano shouldn’t be underestimated. The former South Fremantle captain inherited a side which had seemingly already cashed in its petrol tickets with an eye-catching start to the season and the second half of the year was always going to be about learning and continuing to grow. Under new coach Mark Pink, who comes to the club from WAFL club Peel Thunder, all eyes will be on how long good form can be sustained. Pink arrives after a stint as reserves senior assistant and senior development coach at the club but will be faced with an older list at Harvey, brimming with Douglas recruits desperate to see the club push for finals once more. South Bunbury Out: Stephen Bilcich In: Julian Burgess Former Donnybrook premiership coach Burgess beat a number of highly-credentialed candidates for arguably the most sought-after of this year’s vacancies, taking over from Stephen Bilcich at South Bunbury. For the Tigers, it means an experienced and respected footy figure prepared to take a group on the edge of finals to something special. But it also brought with it a pair of nice recruits. Gun midfielder and Hayward medallist Jace Cormack was in red and white within days of Burgess getting the job and recently retired Don Christ Atthowe joined as an assistant. The trio will be a nice addition to a squad.

Flurry of South West Football League moves triggers off-season merry-go-round as six coaches land gigs

Augusta-Margaret River

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