Some of West Coast’s football department staff have swapped their blue and gold training gear for high-vis workwear during the COVID-19 pandemic thanks to club partner Mineral Resources.

Building on an already strong community-based partnership, which includes naming rights to the club’s headquarters Mineral Resources Park in Lathlain, the company has employed six Eagles at mine sites across the state.

Line coaches Jaymie Graham and Nathan van Berlo, plus assistant strength and conditioning guru Anthony Jones, have arrived on their individual sites and will offer their experience in motivation, leadership, health and wellbeing to Mineral Resources staff while the AFL season is suspended.

Stoppage coach Daniel Pratt, sports scientist Jordan Stares and physiotherapist Steve Gravina will follow the trio after their two-week swing.

“You often see corporate relationships between companies and footy clubs, but this has gone to another level,” van Berlo told The West Australian from Mt Marion lithium mine in the Goldfields.

“For Mineral Resources to reach out and provide support to the footy club when we need it most just shows the value of the partnership.

“I’ve really enjoyed being able to spend some quality time with my kids at home and that has given me some perspective about where things are at, but I’m also extremely grateful to have this opportunity.

“Hopefully there are also some transferable skills I can take back to coaching.”

Mineral Resources Executive General Manager Mining Services Paul Brown said he was looking forward to sharing ideas.

“I’m really excited that we’ve been able to employ two teams of three coaches and mobilise them to our mine sites, specifically in the areas of motivation, team leadership and advice on personal health, nutrition and wellbeing to our people and site leadership teams,” Brown said.

“The past few weeks have been challenging but if there’s one thing we’re good at, it is rising to a challenge.

“We’re all about doing it differently and, right now, our different thinking and ability to act quickly means we’ve got some of the best from the West Coast Eagles working for us.

“I’m looking forward to not only what difference they make to us but also how they find the experience and what they can learn from us that may help them.

“That is what makes a successful partnership and, in this case, we’re already kicking goals and we’ve only just begun.”