Will Perry to coach Hobart’s stand-alone reserves side in 2023

Hobart’s stand-alone SFL reserves side is set to be led by the man that delivered the club its last premiership.

Will Perry, pictured here at 22, will return to Hobart and coach the reserves side in 2023. Picture: SAM ROSEWARNE.

The changes have continued at Hobart just a week out from the SFL season with former under 18’s premiership coach Will Perry accepting the position of reserves coach for 2023.

Following the announcement last week that the club intended to field a stand-alone reserves side this season, Perry will return to Tiger land six years after he delivered the club it’s last premiership.

The Tigers made the decision to remove itself from the senior competition following a raft of players departing the club before and after the decision by former coach Alex Gilmour to stand down in February.

Will Perry coached the Tigers in 2017 to the SFL under 18 premiership in an undefeated season. Picture: SAM ROSEWARNE.

While the Tigers had previously appointed longtime senior player Dylan Huxley as Gilmour’s successor, his desire to continue to play senior football this season has seen the 29-year-old depart the TCA with the club hopeful he will return in the future.

Perry, who was also named SFL coach of the year in 2017 following an undefeated season, said the desire to return to the club that gave him his start and repay the favour in a time of need was behind his decision to return.

“It was too good of an opportunity to pass up,” Perry said.

“The club gave me my start in coaching back in 2017 when I had no experience and I was just young and wanted to get involved after I had to stop playing. That gave me the chance to develop and continue on in roles at TSL level so without Hobart taking the chance on me then, I wouldn’t have been able to do that.

“So with the club in a tough position and after they reached out, I thought now was the time to repay the faith they showed in me and come back into the fold with the club in a tough spot.”

Perry, who has spent time at North Hobart as a recruiting officer since leaving the Tigers, will officially kick off in the role on Tuesday night and was confident a host of former players under his watch would return to the club this season.

Will Perry also spent time at Lauderdale in the TSL as a development coach in 2018. Picture: SAM ROSEWARNE.

“While we will only have the one side and are playing in the reserves competition, I want us to play and attack the game like we are our senior side just playing reserves football,” Perry said.

“Now that decision was made by the club due to a number of factors and it’s one I think was a good one but that doesn’t mean we can’t prepare and play like a senior side. The early rounds will be about continuity and getting to know what our best 22 looks like. That will take time but being as competitive as possible is a goal.

“Footy is all about building relationships and that care factor so when things like this happen, which will inevitably happen to most clubs along the journey, the hope is that you’ve built strong enough relationships in the past that when you reach out they want to get back involved and help out.”

Perry will be assisted by Adam Henderson as a playing assistant coach while AFL Tasmania Hall of Fame member and Perry’s father Darryn will also return as a bench assistant after helping out the club in the wake of Gilmour’s departure.