23rd December 2008

The coaches that will head up the South West Academy of Sport’s Australian Rules football program have been appointed and are now preparing for the first meeting between their squads.

South West Football Development manager Shane Atherton said Wayne Barnden, Brad Fraser, John O'Dea and Graham Jeffery will bring their squads together for initial testing in Bunbury during January.

“From that point forward they will operate as satellite squads in their local region and come together monthly for professional development opportunities,” he said.

Barnden will coach the Lower South West (East Perth zone) squad, Fraser will oversee Busselton (East Perth zone), O'Dea will take the reins of Bunbury (Swan Districts zone) and Jeffery will head up Leschenault (Peel Thunder zone).
 
Atherton said Dylan Harper, who is responsible for the academy’s football program, had done extremely well to secure the services of such highly qualified and credible coaches.

“These coaches will have an enormous, positive impact on their individual squads and the competitions in which they play,” he said.