A few old faces return to the club to add a ton of experience. Michael Broadbridge who has had extensive experience at state U18’s, AFL ex Claremont senior coach and a previous stint at Perth under Eastaugh from memory returns to be a senior assistant coach.
Sharrod Wellingham returns where it all started as a league assistant, has been involved with the state 18’s in recent years and played under some great coaches.
Sam Butler returns for a development role (assume that means 18’s). Sammy pulled on the red and black when allocated to us back in the old system before he went on to become a premiership player with the Eagles.
Trent Manzone will also be involved in development.
Looks like Ashley McGrath won’t be with us in 2026. Won’t surprise me if South have poached him. He was an excellent defensive coach.
But that’s a ton of high level experience coming to help out from U18’s through to league.
R&B Broadbridge was at Perth under McMahon.
His appointment worries me a little.
Although I think Stone will be able to remind him who is boss.
Under McMahon I got the impression he was the decision maker, because McMahon didn’t have a clue.
Right now, I would love to see a mentor for the Rucks.
I think we have some promise in this area, but I would love to see them nurtured.
Broady was at GGS for a couple years in the Swans alignment and then went to Wesley as well to set up their 5 year plan. Been around the block a few times.
DF I think it was the 7 coverage of the finals this year Broadbridge offered special comments. At first I thought it was Trent Cooper they sound similar but it was Michael Broadbridge. I was impressed with his analysis. I think that’s his strength so I think having someone if his ilk next to Stone in the box will be invaluable.
Don’t remind me of the McMahon era please, it still haunts me. He should never have been appointed.
Agree regarding a ruck mentor but Stoney has been a specialist stoppages coach at several AFL clubs so he’s probably got that covered in terms of positioning etc… but yes would be nice to have an ex AFL guy there maybe one night a week for an hour.
Stone is a bit short to mentor ruck stoppages.
I see where you are coming from though.
Our ruckmen in the past have not been all that mobile or productive around the ground.
The best mobile ruckman we have had in ages is actually Schlensog. Not only has he competed well at ball ups, but has been very good around the ground, gathering possessions.
The area I think our ruckmen need help with is competing with the big boys, e.g. Jones, Free and Eastland.
Edwards is equipped but his timing seems off to me, and he gets brushed aside to easily.
If he timed his leap better and leaped into the big boys he may have better luck nullifying them.
Someone like Craig Edwards would be a perfect mentor, as long as his vocabulary goes beyond ugg. Even better Ryan Turnbull.
Then he needs to learn to make himself more mobile providing outlets like good ruckmen do.
Really pleased to have Butler back. He was assigned to us in the reverse draft and always spoke fondly of the club and his team mates. In fact, he expressed disappointment at the alignment making him move to EP. The ability of AFL players to form a bond with WAFL players and a connection with local clubs is largely lost as a result of the reserves/alignment system. More’s the pity.
Excellent interview on 91.3fm this morning with new Perth assistant Michael Broadbridge. Sounded like he is very excited to be involved. Sounds like a very good pick up by the club.
Yes agreed Ted. Good to see Butler back at the club. He always gave it his all and played some very good games for us. Unlike some other AFL squad players who were allocated to Perth over the years. Not so pleased about Wellingham’s appointment. He turned his back on us after his AFL career and played for East Perth.
Cesspit that wasn’t too surprising given East Perth were aligned with the Eagles at the time so I wouldn’t be too hung up on it. More importantly he is back in the red and black and hopefully proves to be a talented up and coming young coach.
So that came within the salary cap then. Good isn’t it. If he worked full time, I don’t have a problem with it. But I doubt he did.
This is the type of carry on Scabiaco played with as well I’m sure.
Please DF,your drawing a long bow trying to tie in parallels with Subi’s salary cap.Do you recall the list Jeremy Barnard inherited in 2019,the first year out of the alignment??Other than the 7 to eight Royal players who got regular league time under the alignment,the rest of the squad consisted of the previous season’s reserves players,and a rag tag collection of amateur and country players,and I highly doubt we got anywhere near the salary cap ceiling.
Wellingham,who I would assume was on a conservative 300 to 400k at the eagles,would have been seeking,in his post AFL career,an attractive WAFL and work package,and Patrick McGinnity would’ve been on good coin,so I doubt he would’ve been working at Audi on a part time basis,and a less than lucrative salary,and it’s not as if you can eke a 100ka year out of a WAFL club.
Your right on the money there DF,Wellingham’s mega contract was covered by AHG,Paddy McGinnitty’s by Bill Gates’s Microsoft,our third biggest Rohan Kerr,who was recruited back into the WAFL from Pinjarra,was renumerated by Jeff Bezo’s Amazon,and Joel Houghton who we were fortunate to snare from country Woop Woop FC,had his salary covered by Dicky Bransons Virgin group.
You miss the point.
Paying players through sponsors is cheating the salary cap.
You learnt well from your neighbours.
I don’t have a problem with players earning a living.
But not when they are not genuinely employed.
I’m trying to tell you in the nicest possible way DF,the bulk of the list,particularly in the first couple of years after the alignment,were on next to nothing,so there was no need to cheat the salary cap.We have had as everybody knows,due to our Prez’s prominent position in the Automotive industry,a long line of player car salesman,ie, Paul Symons,Pat Travers,and Paul Johnson,and the latest,the recruit of the century,Nick Robertson.
Coming off the alignment you were flushed with funds.
Why would you not pay your players through the salary cap?
I have a huge problem with players being paid by sponsors and spending their working days in their football gear around Leederville.
As I used to work right next to the oval I have seen players doing exactly that.
It was rife at Scabi for decades.
