Dimmer quits South Fremantle, Hasleby in
WAFL coaching ranks are in turmoil after four-time premiership coach John Dimmer dropped a bombshell by quitting South Fremantle just as his recent player Paul Hasleby was finalising his bid for the vacant Claremont job.
Hasleby has been appointed to the Bulldogs coaching job on a two-year deal, the club revealed this afternoon.
Hasleby had to move swiftly given that Claremont are likely to appoint their new coach tomorrow.
Triple East Perth premiership captain Jeremy Barnard is the other main candidate to take over the reigning premiers after Simon McPhee moved to St Kilda.
Hasleby completed his final interview with Claremont today just as Dimmer was resigning after eight seasons and two premierships with the Bulldogs.
But several hours later he had the South Fremantle job.
Dimmer told South Fremantle officials that he was required to increase his hours at Christ Church Grammar School but thewest.com.au is aware that tensions had been rising at the club in recent weeks.
Dimmer won flags at South in 2005 and 2009 during a remarkable 25-year coaching career in which he won 12 premierships as a senior coach or assistant at South, West Perth, Claremont, Fremantle and amateur club West Coast.
He won flags at the Falcons in 1995 and 1999 and was Darren Harris’ director of coaching during the 2003 premiership.
Dimmer, a premiership player with Subiaco in 1973, had great success as an assistant to Gerard Neesham at Claremont in the 1980s where he coached the club’s reserves to two flags and helped with the run of four senior premierships in seven seasons.
Hasleby coached the State 20s this year as he wound down a marvellous playing career with a final season with the Bulldogs.
He started at East Fremantle before playing 208 matches with the Dockers.
Barnard was Royals captain during their flag hat-trick in 2000-02 and has been working as an assistant to Williamstown coach Peter German this season.
