News Offseason Staffing Changes - 2025 Edition

[Keys]

FYI - This is/was the 2025 coaching panel

• Senior Coach- Andrew McQualter

Andrew Mcqualter

Age

39

Ht

179cm

Wt

74kg

Pos.

Fwd

Career

Season

Last 5

D

12.9

3star

K

5.6

2star

HB

7.2

4star

M

3.4

3star

T

3.6

5star

G

0.4

3star

No current season stats available

D

13.6

4star

K

7.6

3star

HB

6.0

4star

M

3.0

3star

T

2.4

4star

G

0.2

3star

• Midfield Coach - Jarrad Schofield

Jarrad Schofield

Age

51

Ht

178cm

Wt

80kg

Pos.

Mid

Career

Season

Last 5

D

16.0

4star

K

10.5

4star

HB

5.5

4star

M

3.4

3star

T

1.4

3star

No current season stats available

D

6.0

2star

K

3.4

2star

HB

2.6

3star

M

1.6

2star

T

0.8

3star

• Backline Coach - Luke Webster

Luke Webster

Age

43

Ht

186cm

Wt

91kg

Pos.

Mid

Career

Season

Last 5

D

11.2

3star

K

7.0

3star

HB

4.2

3star

M

4.0

4star

T

2.1

4star

No current season stats available

D

9.8

3star

K

6.6

3star

HB

3.2

3star

M

3.4

4star

T

2.0

4star

• Forwards Coach - Marco Bello
• Stoppage Coach - Luke Shuey

13

Luke Shuey

Age

35

Ht

184cm

Wt

89kg

Pos.

Mid

Career

Season

Last 5

D

23.7

5star

K

13.0

5star

HB

10.7

5star

M

3.3

3star

T

4.9

5star

CL

5.6

5star

D

18.7

4star

K

10.8

4star

HB

7.8

4star

M

2.8

3star

T

2.7

4star

CL

4.3

5star

D

17.0

5star

K

9.2

4star

HB

7.8

5star

M

3.0

3star

T

2.8

5star

CL

1.4

4star

• Ruck Coach - Ryan Turnbull

• Head of Development - Jamie Maddocks
• Development Manager - Steve Trewhella
• WAFL Coach - Kyal Horsley

Kyal Horsley

Age

38

Ht

182cm

Wt

89kg

Pos.

Mid

Career

Season

Last 5

D

16.6

4star

K

9.0

3star

HB

7.6

5star

M

3.2

3star

T

4.5

5star

CL

2.6

4star

No current season stats available

D

19.6

5star

K

11.6

4star

HB

8.0

5star

M

4.2

4star

T

7.2

5star

CL

3.0

5star

• Development Coach (Forwards) - Jacob Brennan

Jacob Brennan

Age

36

Ht

188cm

Wt

82kg

Pos.

Def

Career

Season

Last 5

D

10.2

3star

K

7.4

3star

HB

2.8

2star

M

3.1

3star

T

2.6

4star

No current season stats available

D

9.2

3star

K

7.2

3star

HB

2.0

2star

M

2.6

3star

T

1.6

4star

• Development Coach (Game Fundamentals) - Shannon Hurn

25

Shannon Hurn

Age

38

Ht

187cm

Wt

95kg

Pos.

Def

Career

Season

Last 5

D

20.9

5star

K

15.7

5star

HB

5.2

4star

M

7.0

5star

T

1.6

4star

MG

389.5

5star

D

16.1

4star

K

12.1

5star

HB

4.0

3star

M

5.3

5star

T

1.0

2star

MG

271.6

4star

D

19.0

5star

K

11.6

4star

HB

7.4

5star

M

6.8

5star

T

1.6

4star

• Indigenous Player Development Manager - Chance Bateman

Chance Bateman

Age

44

Ht

175cm

Wt

75kg

Pos.

Mid

Career

Season

Last 5

D

15.1

4star

K

8.8

3star

HB

6.3

4star

M

3.9

4star

T

2.1

4star

CL

1.1

3star

No current season stats available

D

18.6

5star

K

11.0

4star

HB

7.6

5star

M

4.6

5star

T

2.8

5star

CL

1.2

4star

• High Performance Manager - Mat Inness

New appointments for 2026:

• Sam Radford - Midfield Coach
• Mitch Duncan - Backline Coach
• Phil Merriman - High Performance Manager

 

[archiemoses]

My freo mate also said he was good and unsure why he left.

Freo wouldn't let a good person walk, so there has to be more to it.

 

[RustyShacklefordFalcon]

Maybe. But why didn’t freo want to keep him if he is so fantastic?

It would cheer me up if they get kofoed.

Who knows what Freo are thinking...Perhaps they reckon they're within a bees dick of a flag and are frantically reshuffling some deck chairs in the all consuming pursuit of the cup? Perhaps they're making a big mistake. I'll be looking out for who they appoint in his place. Might paint the picture.

It was Darren Burgess who worked at Arsenal, not Merriman.

Merriman worked with Burgess at Melbourne which is where the Arsenal reference comes from

Hawthorn 2011-17, Melbourne 2018-20, Fremantle 2021-25 and now West Coast

It’s a good resume. He will also understand WA conditions and the impact of travel so no need to learn how to deal with that

Doesn’t have to relocate either so no lag between this appointment and him getting to work

There’s a possibility that Fremantle letting him go has meant he fell into our lap to an extent but pleased we haven’t ****ed about finding a replacement for Inness

Plenty of reasons to be pissed at the club of late but this is a step in the right direction

Ah, yep I read that wrong. At any rate, I agree and he seems like a good fit for us.

 

[DorothyG]

I find these types of roles pretty hard for nuffs like us to evaluate.

It's a very behind the scenes role, one who's criteria in evaluating performance we can only really judge on the injury list and the perceived fitness of the group.

But that doesn't really tell the whole story, nor will the club, or any club, ever speak publicly about what plans and strategies they have in place.

The resume looks fine, but who would really know if he or any other appointment will be a good addition.

 

[squashface]

I asked around my Freo circles and supposedly he wanted to stay in Perth (and ideally Freo) but we were offering more coin and Freo didn’t want to improve their offer.

 

[TY24]

I asked around my Freo circles and supposedly he wanted to stay in Perth (and ideally Freo) but we were offering more coin and Freo didn’t want to improve their offer.

Nice to see Geppy finally getting elbow deep in our war chest to land a big fish

 

[Rowan18]

I suspect this was planned over the last several months. Innes would probably have given the heads up earlier in the year that he would leave. It has been announced to close to his departure to have only been sorted in the last week.

 

[kane249]

On the positive side for him is you can't fault Freo's match fitness. Their ability to finish games strong was highlighted by them coming from behind to win on 5 occasions this season.

Our ability to run out games has been one of our weaknesses, so this is a step in the right direction.

 

[squashface]

I suspect this was planned over the last several months. Innes would probably have given the heads up earlier in the year that he would leave. It has been announced to close to his departure to have only been sorted in the last week.

Lines up with Freo just finishing their season too

 

[amazingjoshy]

Eagles land Merriman as new High Performance Manager

Phil Merriman will officially commence in the role on November 1

www.westcoasteagles.com.au

Didn’t have to wait long or look far to replace Innes.

Fairly impressive resume, detailed by the Dockers when they hired him: https://www.fremantlefc.com.au/news/836836/fremantle-appoint-new-high-performance-manager

Suspected this could be the case when he left Freo the other day but was reported he was looking interstate

Love it tbh

 

[amazingjoshy]

I find these types of roles pretty hard for nuffs like us to evaluate.

It's a very behind the scenes role, one who's criteria in evaluating performance we can only really judge on the injury list and the perceived fitness of the group.

But that doesn't really tell the whole story, nor will the club, or any club, ever speak publicly about what plans and strategies they have in place.

The resume looks fine, but who would really know if he or any other appointment will be a good addition.

Of course

But much easier to assess a fitness guy than an assistant coach from the outside as we all.seem to.love to do

 

[kane249]

Suspected this could be the case when he left Freo the other day but was reported he was looking interstate

Love it tbh

Scuttlebutt on their board says he was planning to take up the GWS offer, then we stepped in and it was an easy decision not to uproot his life.

 

[kane249]

Was at the Hawks assisting 2011-2017 in fitness, so there for their flag years

At the Demons from 2018 - 2020 (head of fitness from 2019) so they won the flag year after he left.

So minus the Freo years, he has been involved in some successful sides as well

 

[Altum Volantes]

Scuttlebutt on their board says he was planning to take up the GWS offer, then we stepped in and it was an easy decision not to uproot his life.

At the same time, they are torn between disappointed and confused why he would be leaving to (post WCE appointment) not someone they wanted to retain anyway, that the Eagles 'think is good enough'.

So probably take what the peanuts over there think with a grain of salt.

 

[Mop]

My take is we always knew Innes was a short term gig if he didn't move his family over. That's a sure indicator, no?

We paid Innes big bucks for a few years to imbed a change, see it grow and then hand it over to someone else.
This dude has a good CV and is local. Seems a good fit.

If it works, great.

 

[amazingjoshy]

Was at the Hawks assisting 2011-2017 in fitness, so there for their flag years

At the Demons from 2018 - 2020 (head of fitness from 2019) so they won the flag year after he left.

So minus the Freo years, he has been involved in some successful sides as well

And can't really blame him for Freo not getting there...noone can lift the weight of that anchor

 

[Ambrose Burnside]

WHY ISN'T DUMB PUKE DOING ANYTHING???

 

[kane249]

WHY ISN'T DUMB PUKE DOING ANYTHING???

He's yet to go to Bunnings for a shovel!!!1!111

 

[Altum Volantes]

WHY ISN'T DUMB PUKE DOING ANYTHING???

He got us into this mess, he should have been the first to go!!!!!1

 

[Wooshaaaa]

My take is we always knew Innes was a short term gig if he didn't move his family over. That's a sure indicator, no?

We paid Innes big bucks for a few years to imbed a change, see it grow and then hand it over to someone else.
This dude has a good CV and is local. Seems a good fit.

If it works, great.

And all these high performance guys know each other every well. They've worked/mentored each other in some capacity at some stage of their careers or with colleagues of theirs. Innes would've given his list of targets and /or seal of approval long ago.

 

[Woobla Stainz]

I asked around my Freo circles and supposedly he wanted to stay in Perth (and ideally Freo) but we were offering more coin and Freo didn’t want to improve their offer.

Had heard the same through my contacts, I work with alot of high performance S&C and they are on the move regularly as even in the top jobs in WA they are not paid well so are always pushing for more money. Cut throat industry only one poor year away from being moved on, no financial security.

 

[bzparkes]

Very good signing unfortunately. Went into the last round of the year with only a couple fringe players on the injury list and have had pretty decent track record during his time here.

Can't understand why we let him go.

Looks like he was out the door anyway, based on his comments:

“My family and I were planning to head interstate and then this golden opportunity came up to work with this group and this Club. It was something that I just couldn’t pass up,” Merriman said.

Maybe just wanted a change? Easy to go stale in the same environment.

 

[s_wd6]

Looks like he was out the door anyway, based on his comments:

“My family and I were planning to head interstate and then this golden opportunity came up to work with this group and this Club. It was something that I just couldn’t pass up,” Merriman said.

Maybe just wanted a change? Easy to go stale in the same environment.

After we let him go. GWS was flagged as front runner hence the interstate comment

 

[EaglesOz]

Was Merriman the obvious option you referred to here, or did you have someone else in mind

No .

Merriman might be a good choice but there was an amazing one, though not a long term one. Will find out a bit more about the reasoning when back in Perth. (And i don't know much outside of this opportunity)

 

[Elite Pete]

No .

Merriman might be a good choice but there was an amazing one, though not a long term one. Will find out a bit more about the reasoning when back in Perth. (And i don't know much outside of this opportunity)

Will Freo be all over the amazing short term one?

 

[BSD]

No .

Merriman might be a good choice but there was an amazing one, though not a long term one. Will find out a bit more about the reasoning when back in Perth. (And i don't know much outside of this opportunity)

Is it someone from Cricket Australia that's worked with Langer ?