Incoming Western Bulldogs AFLW coach Tamara Hyett says she is confident the program has the resourcing and facilities to turn fortunes quickly.
After a disappointing 2023 campaign, which saw significant change to both the playing list and staffing panel, Hyett enters the Kennel with a fresh outlook.
“I’ve just pulled up to Whitten Oval actually and I’m looking out over their new high-performance facility which just looks amazing,” Hyett told Andy Maher and Andrew Gaze on SEN this week.
“The facilities and resources that are there for the players now are second to none. You always want more, but what the Bulldogs have is amazing.
“I’m really confident -with the resources from a staffing perspective too that the Club is investing in, I think there will be some really early growth in this group.”
Hyett’s background and pathway to an AFLW senior coach might be different to most, but her passion remains as strong as ever.
“Footy has always been a passion - I remember growing up, (our house) backed onto a school out in Melton. We used to jump the back fence at quarter-time, half-time and have a kick with Dad,’ she said.
“I’m talking 30+ years ago – so it’s always been a passion, but there just wasn’t a pathway to play. Not even at underage level for girls, so that’s how long ago I’m talking.
“I used to travel on tour with a footy and have a kick with a few of the Aussie caddies in all different towns and on practice fairways.
“Coming back from overseas in 2011-2012, I spent some time working at Golf Victoria and during that time joined the St Kilda Sharks. I thought that was a great way to get to know people and get started in coaching with the VFLW side, and then later got a position at the (Sandringham) Dragons.
“I thought I was going for the Talent ID job at the time – then they asked if I could head up their program, so while I was working at Golf Vic, I coached the Dragons for three years and then moved into the Melbourne AFLW program.”
Hyett said some of the key focuses for the Dogs’ program in 2024 will be versatility and speed.
“It sounds like 16-a-side is going to stay for a while, so I think having players that can roll through dual roles (will be really important).
“I think speed too – how we can maximise our speed with or without the ball is definitely going to be where the game is progressing. It’s exciting.”
The 2024 NAB AFLW Season will commence in the last week of August, with pre-season training to kick off on Monday 3 June.
