West Coast Eagles great Shannon Hurn will return to the club to assume an important role in fast-tracking the club’s growing band of exciting young players.

The 2018 premiership captain and games record holder with 333 senior appearances for the club has been appointed as Development Coach – Game Fundamentals and will begin the role leading into the 2025 pre-season.

Re-energised after he took a 12-month hiatus from the game post-retirement at the end of the 2023 campaign, Hurn is is looking forward to re-engaging with the club and the game.

“I always had in the back of mind that I would take a year off and then make a decision about what I wanted to do,” Hurn said today.

“I felt like coaching was the direction I wanted to take, but after 18 years in the AFL system I needed to take a step back to evaluate things.

“It’s a great opportunity and I’m looking forward to getting back into the club. Mainly to help the young kids, give them some tools about how to be successful at the AFL level, work out their strengths and where they can fit in the game.

“Just try to help them find their way in the first four to five years so they can hopefully set themselves up to have a great career.

“I have been fortunate enough to be around footy for a fair while. I have seen a few things, so it will be just nice to be able to pass that back to the player group and help them get back to being a successful footy club.

“Obviously the last few years haven’t been great and this is a good opportunity to be back in football and especially at West Coast.”

Hurn, highly regarded throughout his career as a player who called it as he saw it, will look to foster and enhance the off-field standards and leadership traits required to succeed as a player at the elite level.

General Manager Football Gavin Bell said he was thrilled to have Hurn back at the club.

“Shannon set elite standards as a player, evidenced by the fact that he played 333 senior games,” Bell said.

“He also boasts a strong football IQ and has a very relatable manner which will be important in this role.

“To have someone of his stature returning to the club, particularly with our list demographic, represents a wonderful opportunity for us.

"After the National Draft in November, we expect half our squad will under the age of 22 as we prepare for 2025, so developing that talent is critical in our progress.”