TOPIC:

Craig O'Donoghue,
The West Australian
October 16, 2012, 10:46 am

Western Australia's Talent Academy is set to overhaul its coaching structure after last night's meeting of key football stakeholders recommended a return to the successful regimes of the past.

Officials from West Coast, Fremantle, the AFL, WAFL and WAFC met to discuss concerns about the State's development pathway, which has fallen behind other States after previously being the nation's benchmark.

There are fears that the 2012 national draft will be one of WA's leanest in recent years, despite beginning the season with high hopes.

The reputations of several highly-rated players have plummeted and while they are still expected to be drafted, there are questions over their ability to succeed in the AFL.

AFL club recruiters point to budget and staffing cuts as the key reasons behind the problem.

Recommendations have been made to remove the maximum two-year coaching term for the State under-18 and under-16 teams, so the people in charge aren't always learning on the job.

There should also be a greater focus on appointing proven coaches instead of using the under-age teams as development opportunities.

And the WAFC was urged to appoint a Coach of Coaches in a similar role to the one filled by Rob Wiley for four years. Wiley worked full-time at the WAFC to help the under-age teams from 2007-2010 and the State enjoyed enormous drafting success.
That job is likely to only be part-time, but will be held by someone with significant experience.

Five in line for talent school
Craig O'Donoghue,
The West Australian
October 17, 2012, 6:24 am

Former West Coast premiership defender Chris Waterman and outgoing Carlton assistant coach Mark Riley will be among a large group of experienced coaches approached to become the WAFL Talent Academy coaching chairman following a review of the development system on Monday night.

With AFL recruiters blaming budget and staffing cuts for the lack of development of some of the State's most promising draft prospects this year, the WAFC review decided to appoint someone to a role similar to the job filled by ex-Eagles assistant Rob Wiley from 2007-2010.

Waterman worked as an assistant coach at Fremantle and West Coast before coaching Peel and Subiaco, while Riley has served in coaching roles at Claremont, Fremantle, Melbourne and Carlton.

Former AFL assistant and WAFL senior coaches Darren Harris, Todd Curley and John Dimmer will also be approached.

One-time State under-18 coaches Brad Wira and Andrew Lockyer said it was crucial the best possible candidate was secured.

Wira said having a full-time coaching chairman was now a "non-negotiable" and Lockyer said such an appointment would improve far more than just the players in the academy.

"Rob's ability to help the colts coaches was outstanding," Lockyer said. "This year we had a lot of new coaches in the WAFL colts competition, so was there enough planning for them?"

The WAFL also will remove the maximum two-year term for State underage team coaches and allow them to be appointed on performance. That change won't prevent Michael Pratt from completing his two-year term as under-18 coach.

Wira, who coached Hale School to this season's Alcock Cup after completing his two-year stint in 2011, said using the State job to develop young coaches didn't give them the best chance to succeed.

"The two years was too short. Until you sit in the chair, you don't understand," Wira said.

"It's not a pathway for coaches."
Lockyer, who left coaching to work in Collingwood's recruiting department after his two years finished, confirmed that AFL recruiters had been disappointed by the lack of improvement from some of WA's most promising players.