Bulldogs surround Academy Program with tremendous coaching resources

SOUTH Fremantle’s commitment to its development program and helping young players turn into strong senior players and people off the football field has been further enhanced with the new coaching staff announcement.

The Bulldogs decided to restructure the development program structure for the 2016 season despite the success the club has had in producing players that have turned into AFL and senior WAFL players in recent years.

The first step in that was the announcement of a new Academy Program coach Mark Foster. The former South Fremantle league player and reserves premiership player has taken over not only as coach of the colts for 2016, but also will oversee the coaching of all the club’s development teams.

Not only did South Fremantle want to sign Foster to put him charge of coaching throughout the entire development program, but to support him with a strong group of coaches as well.

That has now been confirmed and includes a group with plenty of AFL and WAFL playing experience, and some experienced coaches in their own right.

Foster’s younger brother Andrew is on board as the forward-line coach following a tremendous playing career that saw him cut short in the AFL by injuries at Fremantle, but he ended up a dual premiership star with Claremont before retiring at the end of 2014.

Sam Buhagiar is on board as the midfield coach having most recently coached the colts at Wesley-Curtin while Brent Irving retains his assistant coaching role, assuming the responsibility of the back-line.

Glen Davies and Richard Hadley have also signed to be development coaches.

Davies is a premiership player with East Fremantle and since has built a reputation as an outstanding colts and reserves coach at WAFL level, and one of the best football brains in the state on top of his ability to develop young players.

Hadley is an AFL premiership player with the Brisbane Lions and retired from East Fremantle at the end of the 2014 season.

A natural footballer, he will provide great insight for the young players in the South Fremantle development programs from the perspective of someone who reached the very top of the game, but also went through plenty of tough times through injury.

All in all, South Fremantle is excited to see what such an exciting group of individuals can do for what has already been a successful development program right throughout the Bulldogs’ zone.