EDFL: Ash Flavel named Westmeadows coach with Mo Kaakour set for Richmond

An opportunity at an “elite level” has forced an EDFL club into a coaching change with a league great set to take over.

Mo Kaakour will be in Tigers colours in 2023, just not those you expected.

Essendon District Football League club Westmeadows has confirmed Kaakour has stood down from the position of senior coach for next season.

Instead, he’s earned the opportunity to move to Richmond’s VFL program as an assistant coach.

Kaakour will remain at Westmeadows in some capacity as the director of football having led the senior men’s team for the past three seasons.

“It has been an absolute pleasure to watch Mo develop our playing group over the last three years and himself into an excellent teacher of football, as well as coach of young men,” the club said in a statement.

“We are pleased that his hard work, passion and dedication have been recognised resulting in his opportunity at elite level. As a club, we could not be prouder to have been apart of his journey to the next level.

“We would like to wish Mo all the best in his new role and will watch keenly as he excels at the next stage of his coaching career.”

The Tigers, the EDFL version, didn’t have to look far for Kaakour’s replacement either with assistant coach Ash Flavel stepping up to take on the top job.

Flavel has been at the club since 2021 after a long and successful career as a player.

His resume includes being the EDFL’s leading goalkicker in 2009 for Pascoe Vale with 128 goals.

“Along with the rest of our coaching staff he (Flavel) has been instrumental in the development of our young group,” the club said.

“Stability and consistency is our priority as we continue.”

Westmeadows finished the 2022 season fourth on the ladder and were eliminated by West Coburg in the first final.