New South Fremantle Development Academy Head Coach Named

THE South Fremantle Football Club has appointed former dual reserves premiership player Mark Foster to the newly created role as head coach of the South Fremantle Development Academy.

Foster returns to South Fremantle after a career that saw him play four league matches and in the 2004 and 2009 reserves premiership teams to fill the new position that sees his responsibilities stretch across the Warriors, colts and in coaching the coaches of the entire development group.

In conjunction with the WA Football Commission, the South Fremantle Football Club interviewed a number of quality candidates for the role who were put through a rigorous process to find the right person for the newly created position.

South Fremantle CEO Stuart Kemp commented how important the development pillar of the club was for the future.

"We have identified that to be competitive with the power clubs of the WAFL in years to come, we need to shift a greater percentage of our financial resources to our development program for future sustained success," he said.

"This important position will focus on the players across the whole Academy along with an emphasis put on teaching and providing best practice for all of our development coaches.

"We feel this position has the capacity and opportunity to deliver a centre of excellence structure for coaches in our district as well."

After being a colts premiership player and fairest and best winner at East Fremantle in 2001, Foster joined South Fremantle in 2003 and made an immediate impact at reserves level playing in the premiership of 2004, winning the fairest and best that year and being runner-up in 2005.

Following three years with Harvey Brunswick Leschenault in the South West Football League where he won a premiership and was captain, Foster returned to South Fremantle in 2009 playing in another premiership side before spending two more years at Harvey Brunswick Leschenault.

He was again successful with another flag in 2010 and winning the Shine Medal in both 2010 and 2011, before finishing his playing career with a B Grade premiership at Wesley Curtin.

Foster's coaching career began with the Harvey Brunswick Leschenault's under-15 side while still playing in 2007 before being reserves midfield coach at South Fremantle in 2010 and 2011.

He returned to the Bulldogs as colts midfield coach in 2012 as well before then spending the past three seasons as colts coach at East Fremantle where he's overseen 17 players represent WA in the State 18s, four players drafted into the AFL and eight players make their WAFL league debut.

The 32-year-old comes with a South Fremantle history and now a burgeoning resume making him a standout candidate for the newly created role, and he commented how honoured he was to have been appointed.

"I feel privileged to have the opportunity to work in a club with such a rich history like the Bulldogs," Foster said.

"The role is exciting and very different to what a lot of the WAFL clubs are doing in their development areas and I can’t wait to get my teeth into working with the talented group coming through, as well as working closely with all of the Academy coaches."

Foster will commence with club in November for the 2016 pre-season and one of his first duties will be to sit down with South Fremantle Player Development Manager Jason Pedulla to review the talent pathway and identification processes for players and coaches alike.

A strong assistant coaching group including those with AFL and WAFL experience to help Foster will be announced in the coming months.