Newly-appointed West Coast WAFL coach Adrian Hickmott is relishing the chance to take charge of the state league outfit for 2020.
After Luke Webster led the WAFL Eagles to finals in their inaugural season, Hickmott has been handed the chance to take the squad forward after West Coast refreshed its coaching structure.
“Over the off-season ‘Simmo’ (Adam Simpson) and the group sat down and thought of a different role for some coaches to change it up a bit, and different faces and different voices,” Hickmott told Sport FM.
“Luke Webster has gone up and is coaching the (AFL) forwards and I’ve got a great opportunity to coach the WAFL team, so very excited about that.
“They say change is as good as a holiday, so it gives me a great opportunity to speak in front of the group, a lot of different aspects to admin work, coordinating different things during game day and during the week.
“It’s a different role and really good for myself and, like I said, a different voice for the young kids to listen to during the year as well.”
Hickmott brings vast experience to the role after previously leading a VFL side (Bendigo Bombers) and underage teams at Gippsland Power and Swan Districts.
The former Carlton and Geelong player also worked in development at Essendon prior to joining West Coast in 2011, where he has held a broad range of positions.
A popular and enthusiastic member of the coaching staff, the 47-year-old was looking forward to building strong connections across the WAFL squad.
“We as a club just try to build relationships and get to know the players as best we can,” Hickmott said.
“I reckon when you do that you get a good understanding how they react under pressure and when they show anxiety or when they don’t.
“The connection with the players, I think the whole coaching group is really good at that.
“The character and the coachability side of things is a couple of things that stand out (about players during the recruiting process), and then really how much they love to be there – which is part of the coaching group’s role as well.
“The group that have come through are definitely excited to be there, they’ve got great characters and the couple of practice matches we’ve played against Swan Districts and Peel they’ve shown those characters as well.”
The WAFL Eagles scraped to a two-point win over Peel at HBF Arena last Saturday and have two more practice matches to tune up for round one against co-tenant Perth at Mineral Resources Park on April 3.
Hickmott’s side will face Claremont at Revo Fitness Stadium on March 21 before travelling to take on Peel the following Saturday.
