THE coaching puzzle is complete, with all WRFL senior teams announcing who will lead their clubs in season 2017.
Most coaches have been re-appointed from this year, however some clubs have decided to head in a new direction, adding some new faces into the coaching mix.
Here is a list of the 2017 senior coaches:
Albanvale – Matthew Stoodley
The Albanvale Football Club announced Matthew Stoodley will be its senior coach in 2017. The club posted this message on their Facebook page:
"Matthew will bring years of coaching experience to Cobraland. Matthew was Wyndham Suns first coach, he lead the side to a senior preliminary final in their first year.
"Following what will no doubt be a big pre-season for the Cobras, Season 2017 will offer significant opportunity for this emerging group who will look to bridging the gap in Division 2."
Albion – Chris O’Keefe
In 2017, the Cats will be under the guidance of new coach Chris O'Keefe.
The former Spotswood premiership champion and two-time Barry Priest medal winner has spent the past three seasons at Bungaree in the Central Highlands league.
Altona – Saade Ghazi
2017 will be Saade Ghazi second season at the helm of the Altona Football Club.
The highly decorated coach led the Vikings to a preliminary final. Falling just nine-points short of eventual runners-up Hoppers Crossing.
With some talented recruits at his disposal, he will be looking to go one step further next season.
Braybrook – Jamie Lane
Jamie Lane will continue as coach of the Bombers in 2017. In his first season at Pennell Reserve, Lane led the team to four wins and 12 losses, improving their ladder position from the previous season.
The club has announced some key player signings in recent weeks and will be hopeful they can continue their improvement next season.
Caroline Springs – Scott Korczynski
Korczynski will be back at the helm at the Lakers next season. In his inaugural year as senior coach, he was able to deliver what the club has been waiting 10 years for, a premiership.
Now, Caroline Springs has been elevated to Division 1, he and the club will face a new set of challenges.
Deer Park – Marc Bullen
Since Marc Bullen began coaching at Deer Park back in 2013 the club has become an unstoppable force in the WRFL, claiming the past four Division 1 premierships.
He will be back at the helm next season, this time only as a coach, not a playing-coach.
Glen Orden – Adam Brookshaw
Glen Orden has announced Adam Brookshaw will take the reins as Senior Coach in 2017, taking over from Stu Daly.
Brookshaw’s assistants will be Dean Comensoli and Lee Spry. Spry was the senior coach of Sanctuary Lakes this season.
Hoppers Crossing – Steve Kretiuk
Steve Kretiuk has committed to Hoppers Crossing for a further two seasons. Since joining the Warriors back in 2014 he has improved their ladder position each season.
Hoppers Crossing lost just three games throughout the regular season, but couldn’t match it with Deer Park in the finals. Will they be able to turn their fortunes around?
Laverton – Sam Young
The Laverton Football Club has announced Sam Young will take the reins as coach of their senior side in 2017.
This year he played for Point Cook in the VAFA, previously he has played for West Footscray, Altona and Laverton.
Manor Lakes – Aaron Bradley
Bradley led the Storm to three wins in the Division 2 competition in his inaugural year. He and the club will be looking to continue their improvement in 2017.
Newport Power – Hanni Harb
Hanni Harb has been announced as Newport Power’s new senior coach, taking over from premiership winning coach Mark Williams.
Harb, who began his football career with the Newport Football Club in 1985, has gone on to both play and coach at various levels of football within the region.
North Footscray – Shaun Borlase and Matthew Walsh
Co-coaches Shaun Borlase and Matthew Walsh will be bitterly disappointed with the way the Devils ended the 2016 season.
The club finished on top of the Division 2 ladder and looked like real contenders to make the jump into Division 1, however they lost in straight sets and were left wondering what could have been.
Borlase and Walsh are back in action next season and will be determined as ever to win the flag.
North Sunshine – Brett Kennerley
North Sunshine appointed Brett Kennerley as senior coach for the 2017 season.
He comes to the club from Avondale Heights in the EDFL, where he was the Under-19 coach this season. Kennerley is also involved with the Northern Knights as an Academy Coach.
Kennerley’s aim is to reinvigorate the club and redevelop the club’s junior program, which he feels is imperative for ongoing and sustainable success.
Parkside – Nick Condos
Condos and his side came so close to clinching that elusive premiership in Division 3 this year, however the Magpies couldn’t match it with Newport Power in the Grand Final decider.
Now, in his second season as senior coach, Condos will have a bevy of talent at his disposal in 2017, including none other than Jason Cloke.
Sanctuary Lakes – Darren Findlay
The Sanctuary Lakes Football Club announced Darren Findlay as their senior coach for 2017.
Findlay has previously coached at VFL level with Port Melbourne and Werribee Football Clubs.
He has also been involved with Anglesea, Barwon Heads, Airport West, Werribee Centrals and Hoppers Crossing.
Spotswood – Anthony Eames
WRFL Interleague coach Anthony Eames has been appointed coach of the Spotswood Football Club for 2017.
Eames, who led the league to victory over Ballarat in the Community Championships this year, will return to the competition as coach of Spotty.
St Albans – Fabian Carelli
Season 2017 will be the second year, Fabian Carelli, is in charge of St Albans.
Last year the club fell agonisingly short of making the finals. Carelli and his men will no doubt do everything in their power to play finals footy in 2017.
Sunshine – Brendan Hallinan
Brendan Hallinan will continue as coach next season. After finishing in sixth place in 2015, the Roos slipped to seventh place in 2016, despite a promising start to the season.
Hallinan will desperate to change their form in 2017.
Sunshine Heights – Robbie Greto and Matt Scalzo
Back in October, Sunshine Heights re-appointed Robbie Greto and Matt Scalzo as co-coaches of the senior side.
Last season, Sunshine Heights moved into Division 3, finishing in sixth place, scoring eight wins and eight losses. The duo will be looking for more consistency in 2017.
Tarneit – Mark Elso
Tarneit’s Mark Elso has been re-appointed senior coach of the Titans for another season. Season 2016 was Elso’s inaugural year with the club, leading them to a preliminary final.
During the November transfer window the club added some talent to its list and will no doubt be eyeing off a Grand Final berth in 2017.
Werribee Districts – Chris Gilham
The Werribee Districts Football Club appointed Chris Gilham as head coach for the next two seasons.
A former Werribee Districts junior, Gilham returns to the club with an impressive coaching resume.
Gilham has been involved with the Werribee Football Club in the VFL for the past five years. There he spent time as a Development and Senior Assistant coach.
West Footscray – Shane Lucas
For the second straight season Shane Lucas will coach the West Footscray Football Club.
The Roosters had a difficult start to 2016 as they struggled for numbers, but still managed to put a team on the park throughout the year. Their highlight of the year was a win against Manor Lakes in Round 10.
Wyndham Suns – Michael Boothey
Michael Boothey has been appointed as the senior coach of the Wyndham Suns.
He has been involved with football for the past 22 years in either a playing or coaching capacity.
Wyndhamvale – Daniel Bunworth
Wyndhamvale has unveiled premiership player Daniel Bunworth as their new senior coach.
Bunworth, a three-time club best and fairest winner, will be a playing coach, committing to the club for two seasons.
"I'm really excited and looking forward to the challenge ahead,” he said of his appointment.
“We have a young list with talent and it'll be great watching those young players further develop into senior footballers.”
Yarraville Seddon Eagles – Dean Callaway
Dean Callaway first began coaching the Eagles in 2015, reaching the semi-finals. This year, the senior side came close to snatching the Division 2 premiership, only to fall 14-points short to Caroline Springs.
In 2017, the Yarraville Seddon Eagles will be more determined than ever to win the flag and move into Division 1.
Last Modified on 08/12/2016 14:06