Statement from West Brunswick AFC
West Brunswick AFC is thrilled to announce the return of club favourite Nick Mitchell. The former Fitzroy AFL player has been appointed as coach of the men’s senior side for the 2020 season. Nick has a long history at West Brunswick, playing in the 2014 senior Premiership side under coach Angus Hamilton, who Nick then joined on the sidelines in the 2018 season as a senior assistant coach. After taking some valued family time in 2019, the Westies are excited to see Nick return to the coaching ranks in the top job.
Nick brings excellent playing and coaching experience to the role, with an extensive footballing resume, including 4 years at Fitzroy in the AFL, 250 games at St Bernards in A/B sections of the VAFA, and of course a 2014 premiership at WBAFC. His coaching career includes the senior coaching role at Old Geelong FC (2009-2011), assistant and senior roles at St Bernard’s (2012-2013), and assistant coach at Fitzroy before taking on the top job for the 2016 (co-coach) and 2017 seasons.
Joining Nick on our men’s coaching panel in 2020 is VAFA newcomer Tom McCluskey, who will be taking on the role of coach of our men’s reserves. Tom will be joining West Brunswick following a 12-year history with the Watsonia Football Club in the Northern Football League, where he played over 200 games including 150 at senior level, and spent 6 years in player leadership including the senior captaincy. In his time at Watsonia, Tom filled a wide range of coaching positions at both senior and reserve grades. Tom received life membership at Watsonia in 2017, before playing Senior Football for Portarlington in the Bellarine Football League in 2019. We’re excited to welcome Tom to the club in 2020, as our reserves team strives for its tenth finals appearance in as many seasons.
Our new men’s coaching line-up will be working with our returning women’s line-up after their successful 2019 season, where both sides competed in the Grand Finals in their first year in the Premier division. Senior coach Josh Melican added women’s senior coach to his extensive resume of club achievements in 2019. Josh is a WBAFC Life Member who has played more than 150 games at West Brunswick, including the 2008 senior premiership. 2020 will be Josh’s fourth year coaching at WBAFC, and second year in the senior role, after winning the premiership in the Premier B division as the women’s reserves coach of 2018. Josh is coming off an incredible first year as Women’s senior coach, with the side making the Grand Final in their first season in the Premier division.
Leading the women’s reserves to their second premiership in two years of women’s reserves football was Marnee Silver, who is once again coaching the side and aiming for the trifecta in 2020. Marnee joined WBAFC in the pre-season of 2019, and brought with her detailed football knowledge, a cool head, and great communication skills, taking our women’s reserves from strength-to-strength! Joining Josh and Marnee on the women’s coaching panel in 2020 are Freya Logan and Regan Tait.
Congratulations to all our coaches and good luck for season 2020! The club will make further announcements regarding thirds coaches in the near future.
*Feature photo: West Brunswick
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