West Coast’s AFLW coaching panel is set for the club’s inaugural season following the recent appointment of back line coach Andrew Di Loreto and stoppage and skills coach Brady Grey.
Di Loreto arrives at West Coast with an impressive coaching CV focused on female development.
He coached former WAWFL club Coastal Titans in 2017 before assuming the top job with Claremont Football Club’s WAFLW team last year, where he remains senior coach.
Di Loreto has also served as the West Australian Football Commission’s State Talent Academy assistant coach and the WA under 18 women’s back line coach for the past two years.
West Coast Eagles head of female football Adam Selwood said the club was thrilled to have Di Loreto on board for season 2020.
“We are very excited to bring someone of Andrew’s coaching calibre into our AFLW program to support our back line group,” Selwood said.
“Due to his level of commitment within the female talent pathway over the past three years, Andrew already has pre-existing relationships with some of our young defenders and I am sure he will fit in nicely with our coaching group.”
Di Loreto said he could not wait to get started with the Eagles.
“I’m super excited about this new opportunity with West Coast’s AFLW team,” Di Loreto said.
“I’ve been coaching for nine years now and have been lucky enough to coach across a few different areas of footy. I eventually landed in female footy and I absolutely love it.
“During my time in the system I’ve worked on helping a mix of girls – AFLW players and others new to football – develop their games.
“Hopefully we can hit the ground running, have a strong pre-season and attack the inaugural year.”
Grey, who has amassed 21 AFL and 68 WAFL league appearances throughout the course of his playing career to date, also has significant experience coaching female footballers.
The 2019 West Coast Eagles marquee WAFL recruit spent two years mentoring Fremantle’s AFLW midfielders during his time at the club.
He is also a graduate of the AFL’s Next Coach program.
Grey becomes the club’s second Indigenous coach, following in the footsteps of Chance Bateman, who joined the AFL program as a development coach this year.
Selwood expected Grey to be a valuable addition to West Coast’s AFLW program.
“Brady is a high quality character who brings a great deal of experience to our coaching group with his previous AFLW dealings at Fremantle,” Selwood said.
“He did a terrific job within their program, where his educational nature and ability to focus on the key fundamental areas of the game were well received by the players.”
Grey said he was eager to start working with the Eagles’ passionate coaching panel and talented playing group.
“I’m really excited to work under Luke Dwyer,” Grey said.
“He coached University Football Club to four flags and I saw what he was about when I was playing at Peel and he was coaching East Perth’s midfield. I’ve watched from afar at the success he’s had as a coach and I’m looking forward to learning what I can off him.
“I think we’ve got a really good mix of players with AFLW and WAFLW experience.
“Our job as coaches is to help the group jell and be a successful inaugural team.”
West Coast Eagles AFLW Coaching Panel
Senior coach: Luke Dwyer
Midfield coach: Andrew Embley
Forward line coach: Michelle Cowan
Ruck and key position coach: Ryan Turnbull
Back line coach: Andrew Di Loreto
Structures and skills coach: Brady Grey
