Eddie Pitter has been one of the leading development coaches in Western Australia over the last thirty years. “It's an area I have really enjoyed being a part of,” he told us.  Pitter is best remembered for his seven year involvement with the Western Australian Teal Cup team, both as coach and advisor, highlighted by the 1985 Australian Championships win. The 1985 side included players such as John Worsfold, Chris Waterman, Peter Sumich, Guy McKenna, Chris Lewis, Paul Peos, and Scott Watters, all of whom have blossomed into coaches in their own right after fine careers. Between 1990 and 1996 he was coaches advisor. He had a more recent association with Swan Districts in 2008 as ruck coach. Eddie was also at Subiaco, where his work with the colts was instrumental in the development of many fine players. “Eddie was a sensational coach,” was the comment from Subiaco and Swan Districts State player, David Snow.  A Gosnells junior, Pitter was recruited by the Royals after playing in both the victorious 1963 Gosnells colts side in the Saturday grand final and the league grand final on the Sunday. He pays tribute to the mentoring of John Marsh. “He educated me about the game,” he said.  Eddie made his league debut with East Perth the following season, and soon established himself in the league side. A hard working six foot three ruckman, he had a good leap, and his work with East Perth's mosquito fleet was a highlight. Rover Hans Verstegen told us: “Eddie made me look better than I really was.” With the quality of ruckmen in the sixties and seventies it was a herculean effort to make the State side, but Pitter was chosen in squads on several occasions.  Runners up on five occasions between 1966 and 1971, the Royals finally got the chocolates in 1972, and Pitter then retired from playing to coach the colts. It was to be a shortlived break, however, as the return of Ray Giblett to the club as coach sparked a change of heart, and in the next two seasons he took his total of appearances in the blue and black to 154.  But the year with the colts had sparked an interest in the development side of the game that was to lead to a distinguished coaching career. He is quick to pay tribute to a man he played and worked alongside for many years. “Grant Dorrington had a lot to do with the development of junior footballers in this State. He deserves recognition for his work.” Eddie retired recently, after running his own transport business for many years, and is hard at work on his golf. He still manages to keep active in the building industry with one truck.  A fine ruckman in his own right, Eddie Pitter's work at the grassroots of  Western Australian football hasn't been acknowledged enough. His tireless efforts as coach of youngsters over thirty years deserve recognition.