Here at WCE, all coaches and staff members are selected carefully. Experience both on and off the field is often an important factor that we may take into account. We must also select our coaches according to our situation and our previous positioning. It is also vital that we have a range of different coaches of whom possess different personalities, interests, skills and backgrounds. Communication is extremely important to the clubs success, so we must ensure that players feels safe, included and comfortable with those who guide them through out their career. This year's results on the field are simply a reflection of all our coaching staff and team work that exists both on and off the field at WCE. We have worked hard, between both players and staff members to develop the historic team of which we have built this season and we continue to only gain strength and ofcourse hope to see excellent results during the finals series.
HEAD COACH- Adam Simpson
ABOUT ADAM SIMPSON: Adam Simpson is the current head coach at the West Coast Eagles Football Club. The former two time premiership winner played 306 games with the North Melbourne Football club and managed to secure the title of "all Australian team captain" five times, as well as a best and fairest award in the Grand Final. After retiring, Simpson spent three years as assistant coach at the Hawthorn Football Club before taking on the role of senior coach in 2014 at WCE. During his time at the Hawthorn Football Club, the Hawks participated in four finals series, two grand finals and took out the 2013 Premiership. Since Adam Simpson's arrival at WCE, the club has shown dramatic improvement over the last two years and are only getting stronger. ADAM SIMPSON'S ROLE AT THE CLUB: As head coach Simpson has a number of roles of which he much play. It is his duty to ensure the successful running of the entire club, including foreseeing the duties of all assistant coaches and other staff members. He must work with all players and develop individual skills to build upon the team's strength. He must be aware of all that is occurring in and around the club and support players and staff in any challenges that they may face. It his duty to not only role model for players but for staff as well, by leading them in difficult situations and staying positive under all circumstances. Simpson must work with individual players on their skills and teamwork, so that on game day play may be smooth and effective. Adam Simpson's attitude reflects on the entire club, he must ensure that all injuries and personal issues are dealt with. So far this season Simpson has displayed excellent coaching qualities including patience, control and optimism. The success of the club will continue as Simpson also grows as a leader and continues to learn and strengthen his own knowledge from further experience in and around AFL.
ASSISTANT COACH- Don Pyke
ABOUT DON PYKE: Don Pyke is currently an assistant coach at WCE, specialising in stoppages and structures. He took on this role in October 2013 after working with the Adelaide Crows football club for two years. Prior to this, Pyke played in two premierships for the West Coast Eagles in 1992 and 1994 and retired after 132 games. Once retired as a player Pyke was placed on the board of directors for the club and spent a large period of time working on the management of the club before perusing his career as a professional AFL coach.
DON PYKE'S ROLE AT THE CLUB: As the current specailist in structures, strategies and stoppages it is Pyke's job to direct and develop all play on the filed as well as positioning of players. This also includes building upon the cooperation of the team with one another and ensuring that communication skills are practiced often during a game. This may also include organising how the ball will be transitioned from defence to offence and how goals may effectively be converted. Set plays are vital during a game, particularly at a stoppage (when play comes to a dead end and the umpire must toss the ball into the air). Pyke must also familiarise himself with opposing team, this may require research. Communicating with players and other staff members is also key to success, Pyke, like all other coaches, must positively role model for players.
ASSISTANT COACH- Dean Cox ABOUT DEAN COX: Dean Cox is not only an extremely famous AFL player who was part of the 2006 West Coast Premier team, but a record setting coach as well. Cox began specialising in Ruck coaching at the beginning of 2013 but had not yet retired as a player. Cox was WCE's first ever playing coach. This was not however his first record at the club, Cox is also well known in Western Australia and across the country for breaking the 276 game record within the club in 2014. Presently Cox is retired from player due to injury and age but is still the specialist ruck coach at WCE, and continues to impact on the club in a number of ways.
ASSISTANT COACH- Brady Rawlings
ABOUT BRADY RAWLINGS: Former North Melbourne star, Brady Rawlings is the current Midfield coach at WCE. After playing 245 games for the North Melbourne Football Club Rawlings stayed behind for another two years as a senior recruiting and inductions coach until the end of 2013. Within his twelve years at North Melbourne Rawlings managed to secure three Syd Barker medals. Rawlings was known for his exellent display of communication skills on the field and was said to always have an aptitude for coaching. He is well known within the AFL community for his positive attitude and lethal skills. His own beliefs and talents displayed during his playing career are strongly reflected in the current players of WCE and in particular the Midfielders.
BRADY RAWLING'S ROLE AT THE CLUB: Brady Rawling's has a number of duties at WCE, each of which is shared with head coach Adam Simpson. Rawlings must study and observe all Midfield players and recognise individual talents as well as challenges that players may face. It is particularly important for Rawlings to link the Midfielders with other players on the filed. Communication is vital in this position. The basic skills of a midfielder are regularly practiced and improved upon under the Rawlings' guidance. Challenges and weak skills performed by individuals is often assessed by Rawlings. Communication skills are also important in the development of players and the entire club. Rawlings must work alongside other coaching members to ensure there is no confusion or misunderstanding on game day. It is vital that Rawling's displays leadership qualities and role models for all players, especially midfielders of whom hold the responsibility of communicating much of on field play. This season Rawlings has worked hard to build upon the club success, this will continue as finals approach.
ASSISTANT COACH- Justin Longmuir
ABOUT JUSTIN LONGMUIR: The current forward line coach at WCE is Justin Longmuir, who spent a number of years at the Fremantle football club. After playing 139 games as a forward/ruckman, Longmuir stayed back at the Fremanlte club as a development coach. It wasn't until the end of the 2011 season that Longmuir was appointed forwards coach at the West Coast Eagles. During his time as an AFL player Longmuir was well known for his "over the pack marks" and exciting plays. He is extremely famous for his after the siren goal that won Fremantle round 21 of the 2005 season. Taking an over the pack mark, more commonly known to be a "screamer".
JUSTIN LONGMUIR'S ROLE AT THE CLUB: As a forward line coach, it is vital that Longmuir relates with all forward line players and communicates regularly with not only these players but other coaching staff as well. He must take into account personal issues such as their health and well being as well as their various abilities and skill levels. Longmuir must focus on a number of areas on the field such as transitioning the ball from defence to offence, building upon attacking strategies, developing communication between forward's and midfielder's and regularly practicing basic skills. Longmuir must also watch over all forward line players as well as other members of the club to ensure the health and safety of individuals. This role is to be shared with other coaching staff, of which Longmuir must communicate with always.
ASSISTANT COACH- ADRIAN HICKMOTT ABOUT ADRIAN HICKMOTT: Adrian Hickmott is the current backline coach for WCE. After 188 games of playing as a back, for both Geelong and Carlton Hickmott retired in 2003, perusing his coaching career at Essedon Football club as head of development. Hickmott first joined WCE in 2012, working as a development coach, it wasn't until the beginning of 2014 that Hickmott took on the role of an assistant coach, specialising in defence and backline play. Hickmott is well known in and around the club for his outstanding display of positive leaderships and consistent drive to succeed in as many areas in he can, particularly anywhere in AFL football.
DEAN COX'S ROLE AT THE CLUB: ADRIAN HICKMOTT'S ROLE AT THE CLUB: As the specialist coach in rucking; it is Cox's duty to Hickmott's role at WCE is to assist Adam Simpson in work with all Ruck man within the WCE squad on the development of the WCE squad and to specialise not only the basic skills of this position but a number the defensive area. Whilst Hickmott must build upon of other areas. This may include working with the basic skills of a defensive player he must also surrounding players to ensure the team takes work to develop their attacking skills to ensure possession of the ball. Cox must also model good transitioning from defence to offence is effective. ethics and behavior to all players. Communication This may require development of communication communication skills are also vital for this position skills and team building. Alongside all coaching staff so Cox must not only practice this but potentially Hickmott must display a positive attitude in all demonstrate it within the club. So far through out situations and encourage all players to ensure the 2015 season and previous seasons before that overall success and happiness within the club. Cox has shown exceptional leadership skills and Through out Hickmott's coaching career here at WCE will most likely continue making a massive contribution strong leaderships skills have been displayed and to the club for many years to come. and will continue as WCE play through the finals.
OTHER COACHING STAFF AT WCE AFL is an extremely physical game, this is why it is Warren Kofoed: Head of Strength and Conditioning vital that our players are well looked after here at WCE. Anthony Jones: Assistant of Strength and Conditioning We have a large number of staff hired to ensure the Liam Warwick: Assistant of Strength and Conditioning safety of all individual players. This includes all medical Kyle Wheeler: Rehab Director staff an trainers that build and develop upon the Jarryd Heasman: Sports Scientist Coordinator strength of our players and ensure that they are fit Brent Rogalski: Sports Scientist and healthy before they are sent out onto the field. It is Pale Quan: Sports Science Intern is often a major task to develop a fit, healthy and Paul Tucker: Senior Physiotherapist balanced playing squad as all individual players are Mark Finncane: Physiotherapist are different and require variations in treatment and Stephen Gavina: Physiotherapist development. That is why we take pride in selecting all Tyler King: Performance analysis of our staff members at WCE, to make sure our playing Luke Hyde: Performance Analysis squad can perform their very best on game day!
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