WRFL: Spotswood appoints former Essendon rookie Tom German as coach
Spotswood has turned to a former Essendon rookie as its new coach with one man credited for putting together in a mountain of work before his appointment.
Western
Don't miss out on the headlines from Western. Followed categories will be added to My News.
It’s officially the beginning of a new era at Spotswood.
The Western Region Football League Division 1 club has appointed former Essendon rookie Tom German as its new coach for 2023.
German will be a playing coach, the same role he performed during the last three years with Bacchus Marsh in the Ballarat Football League.
Previously he has spent time in the VFL with Williamstown and the Northern Bullants.
Stints with Oak Park and Mansfield also followed.
Spotswood president Alan Given expressed his excitement of German’s arrival.
German will replace Anthony Eames who stood down from the role after being in charge since 2017.
“We’re very happy with our appointment of Tom,” Given said.
“Our director of football left no stone unturned in our search for a senior coach. He looked far and wide for the right candidate.
“He just didn’t go out and rush this process after Anthony informed us he would be stepping down. It was disappointing to lose Anthony but we’re excited but what Tom is going to bring to the club.
“Tom is a very experienced and will play a key role in our club’s continued development. We look forward to seeing where he can take us.”
The Woodsmen finished the season in sixth position, missing finals footy by two games with a 9-9 record.
It was the first time the club hadn’t featured in the Division 1 finals series since 2000.
But Given is confident they can bounce back quickly.
“Anthony already started the process of seeing us get back into finals footy,” he said.
“We know we were probably a couple of players short this year and we’ll look to address those needs before next season. We’ve well and truly started the planning heading into next year.
“Tom will be hitting the ground running when he gets back into the country.”
Another ex-AFL name on the way to WFNL
A second ex-AFL name has signed for a Western Football League club in the space of less than a week in a move which bolsters a side which reached a grand final just two years ago.
Inside the WFNL’s interleague return
The Western Football Netball League will return play interleague for the first time since 2019 next year. The boss reveals why he’s confident the very best will feature and the purpose it will serve.