AFL life member Drew Petrie and 2015 Football Woman of the Year Jan Cooper have joined the West Coast Eagles to support the club’s three development academies:

2nd Generation Academy – A program to support daughters and sons of fathers who have played for the West Coast Eagles

Female Academy – A multi-layered program supporting females who are just beginning their football journey to those striving to play in the AFLW.

Naitanui Academy – State-wide in-school and after-school programs designed to support indigenous and multicultural males develop their football talent and life skills.

In 2017 the Eagles worked collaboratively with WAFL Clubs and the WA Football Commission to conduct more than 12,000 engagements with young people across WA through Academy programs, supporting football skills development while promoting the benefits of diversity and inclusion.

Petrie has accepted a role as the West Coast Eagles Game Development Head Coach, overseeing coaching of the club’s academies while also supporting new draftees with their AFL transition and prospective female coaches with their coaching development.

Cooper will co-ordinate the High Performance Female Academy and prepare the club for its entry into the AFLW competition in 2020. Until recently, she managed the AFL’s Female Football Development portfolio.

Complementing the appointments, West Coast Eagles life member and highly experienced recruiting scout Kim Hannah will co-ordinate the Naitanui Academy.

Eagles General Manager Community and Game Development Richard O’Connell said he was delighted that the club had secured such quality characters to help develop future Western Australian talent.

“Knowing that Jan and Drew are helping foster future AFLW, AFL, WAFL, WAWFL and amateur talent is really exciting,” O’Connell said.

“I’m certain that by sharing their knowledge and experience they will have a powerful influence on young people’s football and life journey.

“Our supporters should be very pleased that we are able to bring such quality people into the club to further enhance our contribution to professional and grassroots football across the state.”

Both will report to Manager Game Development and West Coast Eagles life member Adam Selwood.

In 2016 the West Coast Eagles established its Community and Game Development department to co-ordinate the club’s annual external engagements, including its academies. In 2017 the club supported more than 500 WA organisations through education programs, healthy lifestyle activities and charitable donations.

Backgrounds on the Game Development Team

Jan Cooper

Jan was integral in the establishment of the AFLW competition through her role as Manager Female Football Development with the AFL.

Jan was named 2015 AFL Football Woman of the Year for her significant contribution to football and in 2017 she was inducted into the WA Women’s Hall of Fame.

As former assistant head trainer of the Swan Districts Football Club, Jan has been paving the way for females in football for more than 25 years – from the highest level of AFL to local Auskick centres. Her current role is focused on growing female participation in Australia and to provide talent pathways for girls and women. Jan collaboratively developed the talent pathway for Schoolgirls Nationals and the AFLW 18s championships six and eight years ago respectively, as well as the National Female Exhibition Games (a high level precursor to AFLW).

Drew Petrie

Drew commenced his AFL career in 2001 and went on to play 316 games for North Melbourne. He was the club’s leading goal kicker five times and spent time as both captain and vice-captain during his playing career.

He represented Australia in the 2008 International series.

In 2011 he was named in the AFL all-Australian team.

In 2016 Petrie was drafted by West Coast Eagles, where he went on to play 16 games for the club, retiring following the Eagles’ finals campaign.

Adam Selwood

Adam commenced his AFL career in 2003, played 187 games for the West Coast Eagles and was a member of the club’s leadership team for five years. He was recognised as a life member of the club in 2011 and was a premiership player in 2006.

He represented Australia in the 2006 International Rules Series and was vice-captain of the representative team in 2008.

After retiring in 2013, he was immediately appointed as a member of the West Coast Eagles’ coaching staff.

He has a Bachelor of Business from Curtin University.

Kim Hannah

Kim is a fully qualified secondary education teacher with more than 30 years of educational experience working in metropolitan and regional schools. He was a deputy principal before joining the West Coast Eagles.

He received life membership at the West Coast Eagles in 2017 in recognition of his commitment to the club’s community and recruitment departments.

Kim was instrumental in the establishment of the Naitanui Academy during its inaugural year in 2017.