Former West Coast Eagles player Jamie McNamara will join Williamstown in the Peter Jackson VFL next season.
McNamara spent 3 years at the West Coast Eagles playing 19 AFL games and will join the Seagulls for the next two years from East Fremantle in the WAFL.
McNamara played 77 league games in the WAFL averaging 24 disposals and 5 marks a game – 37 of those games were in his last two seasons since being delisted by West Coast. He has been a standout player for East Fremantle in recent years, finishing runnerup in the clubs Best & Fairest in both years, as well as polling 38 votes in the WAFL’s Sandover Medal. A vice captain of the club as well, McNamara will bring his leadership expertise across from Perth as well as his on field prowess.
At 23, Williamstown believes that Jamie is entering the prime of his career and has got his best years ahead of him. After the departures of experienced players such as captain Brett Johnson and Ben Davies, the club is delighted to have secured someone of Jamie’s calibre who will help fill the vacancies in the midfield.
Williamstown CEO Brendan Curry stated the whole club was delighted to have Jamie commit to the Seagulls for the next two seasons.
“It was great to hear Jamie wanting to commit to move to Melbourne to further his football career. We believe at the age of 23 he is a perfect acquisition to our club and we’re delighted to recruit a player of his ilk.
“Jamie will help fill the void in the midfield, along with the emergence of our promising second and third year players who are ready to take the next step and cement their spots in the senior line up.”
McNamara will wear the No.10 jumper, most recently worn by captain Brett Johnson.
“The last West Australian we recruited to wear the No.10 wasn’t a bad player, and we’re hoping Jamie can have a similar career down at Williamstown.”
The new Seagulls recruit will join the club in the early stages of the new year, when he relocates to Melbourne.
In other Williamstown news, the club has moved a step closer to completing its coaching team for 2012 with the announcement of their new Development Coach Brett Henderson, and new High Performance Manager Mathew Inness.
Brett Henderson comes to the club having coached Echuca in the Goulburn Valley Football League over the past three seasons with the side seeing finals action each year. Prior to this Brett has had a decorated career coaching in the country with clubs such as Lake Boga, Echuca United and Leeton-Whitton. A teacher by trade, Brett is looking forward to relocating down to Melbourne in the Williamstown area. Brett has had a strong history of the development of junior players into Senior football and will be a fantastic addition to the Seagulls coaching staff.
Mathew Inness made his name as a professional cricketer playing for Victoria, Western Australia and Australia A. Since retiring from cricket Matt has worked at East Perth in the WAFL, Western Australia in the NAB U18 AFL Championships and for the past 4 years has been the Head of Strength and Conditioning for the Western Australian Cricket Association, looking over 150 athletes including the Western Australian Warriors competing in the Sheffield Shield. Matt is moving to Melbourne to undertake a PhD with Victoria University.
Williamstown Football Manager Chris Dixon said the Club was excited about the two new appointments.
"We were never going to rush these critical appointments as we wanted to make sure we got the right people. We couldn't be happier with Brett and Mat coming on board and we're looking forward to having them down in Melbourne from January."
The Club is expecting to make one more coaching appointment to complete the 2012 coaching staff.
Last Modified on 07/12/2011 11:46