SWFL loses more coaches

Two more coaches have announced their retirement from the South West Football League as pressure of work and travel takes hold.

Noakes quits Hawks

Augusta-Margaret River has lost its league coach, with star spearhead Tim Noakes quitting the job to pursue a coaching career in Perth.

Noakes rejoined the club he played his junior football at in 2011 after spending six years with WAFL club East Perth, where he played 77 league games and won the Royals’ best and fairest in 2008. He topped the 2011 SWFL goalkickers’ list with 97 goals, including four in the grand final to helplift the Hawks to their first premiership since 1995.

After spending 2012 playing for Perth for another 15 matches, Noakes accepted the playing coach position at the Hawks ahead of the 2013 season and led his team to the first semi-finals before it was ousted by the Collie Eagles.

Noakes, who lives and works in Perth, said distance played a major role in his decision to leave.

“As much as I would love to keep coaching and put back as much as I can into the grassroots program at the club, it is just too hard to do what I want to do and believe needs to be done while I’m living up in Perth,” he said.

“Augusta-Margaret River is a great club, which is the only reason I accepted the coaching job this year.

“It is the place I grew up and there are so many good people there and so much talent coming through for a small town, which made this decision very difficult.”

Noakes has agreed to coach amateur club Wembley, but is also considering applying for assistant coaching vacancies in the WAFL.

“I’ve been encouraged to apply for a few posts which have popped up so I’m considering those opportunities and will make a decision on whether to throw my hat in the ring in the coming weeks,” he said.

Augusta-Margaret River president Barry Tate said the split was amicable and thanked Noakes for his work at the club.

“Both Tim and the club realised at the end of the season that having a Perth-based coach wasn’t ideal and so this was a decision both sides think is for the best,” he said.

“Tim is a very good coach with the right ideas about how a team should be led and he has been a great ambassador for the club.”

Noakes said both he and brother Ben hoped to continue playing for the Hawks next year but his availability would be determined by coaching commitments in Perth.

King resigns from Panthers

Carey Park has joined the search for a new league coach after Jy King was forced to resign from the position late last week.

King is searching for full-time employment after recently being made redundant and can no longer dedicate himself to the Panthers.

Carey Park president Darren Kenny said the club was disappointed to see King leave.

“As a footy club we were very happy with how Jy went about developing our young talent.

“He really took it upon himself to incorporate what the board wanted to achieve on and off the field into his coaching vision.

“We’re sad to lose him under these circumstances but are more than happy with the role he has played at the club.”

King coached Carey Park for two seasons, finishing fourth and eighth respectively.

Kenny said the Panthers would advertise the coaching position in the coming weeks.