The West Coast Eagles have finalised their AFLW coaching panel for the upcoming season, with Pia Faletti and Rohan McHugh stepping into assistant roles under senior mentor Michael Prior.
Faletti, a former Subiaco Rogers Cup coach and WAFLW reserves premiership player, has progressed through the ranks after two seasons as a development coach and will look after the forward line.
McHugh hails from a physical education teaching background and was previously involved with athlete wellbeing and engagement management at Hockey Australia.
“Really excited for Pia, who has stepped up from a development coach to a line coach, and Rohan who comes to us from West Coast Amateur Football Club and Hockey Australia,” Prior said.
“Pia just finished her level three accreditation, so she gets the opportunity to look after a line, a bit more responsibility, which is great for her.
“Rohan is coming on as a full-time employee but working with our backs with our AFLW team.
“Excited to have him and he’s fitted in really well.”
McHugh takes the backline reins from Andrew Di Loreto, who has moved into the Head of Development position.
Meanwhile, Dean Irving will coach the Eagles’ rucks and key position players, Amanda Robertson joins the club in a development role and inactive defender Evie Gooch will work with the backs in a development position.
Irving was previously involved with West Coast from 2007-09 working with the likes of Dean Cox, Mark Seaby and Nic Naitanui, as well as the WA underage academies.
Robertson has been coaching Claremont’s under-18s Rogers Cup team and was forwards coach for the senior WAFLW side, after previously being involved with the Female Coach Mentor Program within the Eagles’ AFLW High Performance Academy
“Amanda comes to us from Claremont, where she was with their WAFLW Grand Final-winning senior team,” Prior said.
“She comes in as a development coach working under Hamish Brayshaw in the midfield, so we’re excited to have her on board.
“Dean brings a lot of experience. He’s been involved in AFL programs before. He’s been here since the start of pre-season and the girls really like him and his different way of coaching.”
Meanwhile, the Eagles will continue their Female Coach Mentor Program this season with aspiring coaches to be guided by Head of Womens Football Michelle Cowan and Steve Malaxos.
West Coast AFLW coaching panel:
Senior coach – Michael Prior
Backs – Rohan McHugh
Midfield – Hamish Brayshaw
Forwards – Pia Faletti
Head of Development – Andrew Di Loreto
Key position and ruck – Dean Irving
Development – Amanda Robertson, Evie Gooch
