Meet The Coaches
The development of our young players is crucial to the club's future, and we know coaches play a crucial role.
West Coast Amateur Football Club invests heavily in our coaching staff and their continual development, with all coaches supported to achieve the highest levels of accreditation and professional development.
With great pleasure, let us introduce you to our coaching panel for the 2021 season...
Senior Coaches
Rohan McHugh
An experienced footballer, coach and school teacher by trade, Rohan McHugh moved to WA from Victoria in 2015 to join SEDA's Fremantle Dockers Sports Development Program. Rohan played and coached in a number of premiership sides in the TAC Cup, VFL and VCFL competitions, and represented VCFL and WACFL State sides in 2014 and 2015.
In his first year coaching at West Coast, Rohan was a finalist for Claremont District's 2016 Senior Coach of the Year. Building on that momentum in 2017, Rohan coached our A Colts side into the finals, knocking off eventual premiers University along the way.
He was appointed head league coach in 2018 where has since built the clubs senior playing depth and development, reaping the rewards in 2020 where they played in a grand final. He and the club are striving to go one step further in 2021!
Curtis Guglielmana
Rohan is joined on our senior coaching panel by Curtis Guglielmana, who continues in his role as Reserves Coach. A physiotherapist by trade, Curtis came to the club with a decorated Country Football record and has brought a great deal of professionalism and enthusiasm since joining "the boys from ol' West Coast" in 2017.
After not featuring on the field for most of his first two seasons at the club, he has bounced back to win back-to-back league best and fairest awards in 2019 and 2020. Add this to coaching the reserves to an undefeated 2020 season and premiership, Curtis has enjoyed some great recent success and will look to keep the momentum going in 2021.
Senior Assistant Coaches
Mick Doherty
Bringing further experience to the West Coast coaching panel since 2018 is Mick Doherty, who joined the club in a Senior Assistant role with an extensive coaching resume, including three years at the Oakleigh Chargers in Victoria's talent factory TAC Cup competition. Since moving to WA in 2012, Mick also took on an Assistant Coaching role for the State 16s at the WA Football Commission's academy.
Xavier Ellis
West Coast Amateur Football Club is pleased to announce the addition of Hawthorn premiership player and ex-Eagle, Xavier Ellis, to the club's coaching panel in 2018. We are excited by the professionalism and experience that Xavier brings, having played for seven seasons under AFL supercoach Alistair Clarkson since he joined the Hawks as a #3 draft pick in 2005. Xavier's appointment is another positive step in the club developing and continuing to invest in providing the best on-field and off-field environment we can for the benefit of all our young players. Welcome to the real West Coast, Xav!
Colts Coaches
Sam Bevan
Newly appointed for the 2021 season, head colts coach Sam Bevan brings a fresh look to the colts group who are looking to go one step further than their preliminary final loss in 2020. With a Bachelor of Sports Science and Exercise Health and Masters of Teaching (Secondary) under his belt, Sam brings an array of relevant skills to the club.
At 24 years of age, Sam already has an impressive playing career. Progressing through the WA U16 and U18 state programs, he also featured as an U18 Australian Institute of Sport (AIS) squad member in 2013. Post high school, he played at Claremont Football Club including colts captain in 2014. After a brief stint in the VFL at Port Melbourne, he returned to country football in WA where he has gathered club leading goal scorer awards at Gingin Football Club (2017 - 2019) and Donnybrook (2020). His experience in football leadership positions and WA football talent pathways is massive boost for the colts boys!
Leigh Ashby
Having grown into the role of Colts Assistant in 2015 and 2016, Leigh Ashby took on the reins for our B Colts side in 2017. As the club returned to a single colts team in 2018, Leigh stayed on as head coach before returning as an assistant coach in 2019. With six years experience in colts coaching including multiple finals appearances, he brings invaluable experience for young, developing footballers at the club.
A talented footballer himself, Leigh is a two-time State 23s player, as well as being a member of the Senior Leadership group and performing a Player Development role on the committee. He was the inaugural winner of the club's Young Leadership Award in 2017.
Thirds Coaches
George Dawson
A home grown talent, George Dawson has been down at West Coast since playing colts in 2011 and has been involved with the club in various position’s ever since. He will tell you that like many champions he was destined for glory as a young player if it wasn’t for three knee reconstructions. George has also played in lower grade football including playing Sunday league football, where the emphasis is more on having a beer and a laugh then doing long pre-seasons. He knows what thirds is about, competing with your mates on the field and then having a laugh off the field.
Womens Coaches
Maddy collier
Playing for the West Coast Eagles in the AFLW, Maddy has joined the WCAFC Family in 2022 as the Women’s League Coach. With a wealth of knowledge and experience to offer our women, we look forward to all the great things Maddy has to offer our squad!
ASHLEIGH MEDWIN
A legend within the club as a player, Ash is now stepping into coaching to handball her knowledge to the girls and keep the energy alive from the sidelines. Her achievements are not small and we are lucky to have an asset on our side!
2010 - WAFLW premiership player for East Fremantle
2020 - West Coast Tigers women’s A grade MVP
2020 - PFL women’s A grade runner up MVP
2021 - PFL state representative team member
2021 - PFL women’s A grade runner up MVP
Tal Berman
Tal has been a friendly face at the Tigers for many years and is a valued addition to our coaching team. A keen athlete and sportsperson herself, Tal is also a Health and Physical Education Teacher at St Mary's Anglican Girls School.