Former AFL player Beau McDonald leads WAFC coaching development session in Albany

The WA Football Commission coaching team led by AFL premiership player Beau McDonald delivered a development session in Albany last week to help regional coaches with effective strategies and tactics in their development of teams and players.

The session focused on educating and guiding senior and junior coaches in the Great Southern Football League and South Districts Junior Football Association through the use of workshops and drills.

About 17 coaches took part in the session last Wednesday night with McDonald and a number of other coaches demonstrating drills and workshopping ideas among those in attendance.

McDonald, a dual AFL premiership player with the Brisbane Lions, is the head of coaching at the WAFC and has previously been part of the Lions’ coaching structure. In addition to the night session on May 11, there was also a separate workshop on Tuesday, May 10 for Year 3 and 4 junior football coaches.

The WAFC coaches who made the trip also took a group of youth girls players for a training session on Tuesday.

McDonald said both sessions provided a great opportunity for growth and progress in the Great Southern coaching sphere.

“It’s great to come down here and help the coaches, we want to see where they’re at, give them some advice and let them ask questions,” he said.

“We’re also taking some coaches through the level two course modules, it’s really just about engaging, connecting and showing our face down here in the regional areas.

“We’ve been up to the Pilbara already this year so it’s good to come down here to see how we can help and support as WAFC.

“I do lots of different things but my main role is head of coaching so I look after all the coaches in the State.”

McDonald believes the sessions can help nurture hopeful coaches in their endeavour to support the development of their players.

“Coaches play a central role in the experience for the players from a young age so having confident and competent coaches who can continue to focus on the development of their players is an important focus for us,” he said.

“There are many passionate football volunteers at club land in Albany, Denmark and Mt Barker and it was great to see the turnout.

“The same way we look after players we also need to look after our coaches.”