COACHES APPOINTED FOR 2025 JUNIOR FOOTBALL INTERLEAGUE
The Western Football Netball League is pleased to announce the eight coaches leading its 2025 SEDA College Junior Interleague teams next year.
The 2025 coaches are Darren Ryan (13A Boys), Ollie D’Rozario (13 Girls), Walid Kaddour (14A Boys), Michael Motta (14B Boys), Amie Bracken (14 Girls), Daniel Neville (15A Boys), Michael Grech (15B Boys) and Leanne Meyer (15 Girls).
All coaches were involved in the successful 2024 program as either Head Coaches or Assistant Coaches.
The WFNL will be searching for a 13B Boys coach, as well as taking expressions of interest for Assistant Coaches. More information on this is provided at the end of the article.
The WFNL is also excited to introduce the Under 14 Girls team for 2025 and the foreseeable future after the successful introduction of the U13 Girls side in 2024.
The new side will participate in AFL Victoria’s Metro Junior Development Series.
Dom Lammardo, WFNL Junior Football Manager congratulated all eight coaches on their appointments.
“After a really successful program in 2024, we are pleased to welcome back Darren Ryan, Michael Motta, Amie Bracken, Daniel Neville, Michael Grech & Leanne Meyer as head coaches” he said.
“We’re also delighted to welcome new head coaches in Ollie D’Rozario & Walid Kaddour who both bring a high level of coaching expertise, elite pathway experiences and great values to our interleague program. They were both highly valued assistant coaches this year, and I look forward to working with them and supporting them in driving their programs in 2025.”
“I’d also like to acknowledge outgoing coaches Kirk Heberle and Nigel Willingham. Nigel, whilst only coaching the one year, led the U13 Boys B Team to 2 wins. His commitment to our program in 2024 was very much appreciated. Kirk had coached Interleague for 3 years starting with the U13A Boys in 2022 and continuing with the U14A Boys and U15A Boys. He brought a real sense of professionalism in the way he ran his programs and set the boys up for further elite pathways as evidenced by so many in his players being invited to the Jets Future Trials. We will look to keep Kirk involved in a coaching support role.”
“After a successful introduction of the U13 Girls interleague program, we will look to forward to completing the Junior Girls elite pathway with the introduction of an Under 14 Girls team. Leanne, Amie and Ollie worked incredibly well together this year, and the passion to grow girls’ football in the West is quite clear in our conversations”
“2024 has been a successful for Junior Girls football, with 27% growth in Girls 16 and under playing football in our league this season compared to 2023. The three interleague teams not only reflect the growth of junior girls’ football in our league, but our commitment to providing elite pathways for more of our junior girls.
“With a three-year pathway now in place, identical to the boys, we believe this will help more girls within our league achieve their dreams of taking their football to the next level like Sierra Grieves from Yarraville Seddon Eagles has done this season leading up to the AFLW Draft taking with her Victoria Metro MVP and All Australian Captain honours from the U18 Girls Championships.”
For 13B Boys coach expressions of interest, as well as Assistant Coaches, please see below.
