WA footy academy gets boost
The WA Football Commission has answered a push for more resources to be directed into talent development by adding a new full-time coaching position to the WAFL Talent Academy.
The commission will today begin advertising for a coaching co-ordinator to oversee the development programs at all nine WAFL clubs.
The new position has been created in line with recommendations stemming from the AFL's talent review - an ongoing process which is expected to be completed once a new broadcast agreement has been signed for season 2017 and beyond.
_The West Australian _understands funding for the role was obtained from the development budgets assigned to each WAFL club.
Working under WAFL talent manager Raff Guadagnino and alongside newly-appointed WA under-18 coach Andrew Lockyer, the coaching co-ordinator will mentor all development coaches and bring clubs further in line with the State academy.
The WAFC is targeting former AFL and WAFL coaches and assistants with at least three years' experience for the role.
West Coast premiership player Steven Armstrong, four-times WAFL premiership coach Tony Micale and former Perth coach Damian McMahon are expected to be sounded out.
The position is set to fill a void created in the program when Robert Wiley departed at the end of 2010. He was not replaced.
West Perth premiership coach Darren Harris and Eagles opposition analyst Tim Gepp have filled similar roles, but only on a part-time basis.
WA's talent spend was last year criticised by AFL Academies development manager Michael Ablett after the State won just one of six games at the under-18 national championships.
Guadagnino said the new position was an indication of the value the commission placed on developing young talent.
"Good things take time and I think we're going in the right direction in terms of developing talent not just for the AFL, but for the WAFL system too," he said.
