Bulldogs announce new reserves/development coach

THE South Fremantle Football Club wishes to announce the appointment of Paul Litherland as reserves/development coach for the 2017 WAFL season to take over the helm for the Bulldogs' reserves side. 

The role as reserves/development coach became available when Tony Walters decided to step down after a successful period at the helm with Litherland proving the outstanding candidate to lead the South Fremantle reserves group moving forward.

Litherland arrived at South Fremantle from East Perth and over the past two years has served as an assistant to both the Bulldogs' reserves team while also helping with the league side.

When he put his hand up to take over as the reserves/development coach for 2017, he quickly emerged as the standout candidate and the South Fremantle Football Club is delighted to be able to confirm his appointment.

But it would be remiss not to acknowledge the outstanding job that Walters has done with the Bulldogs' reserves in his time in charge.

His time at the helm included winning premierships in 2013 and 2015, and another finals appearance in 2016 despite the depth of his team severely hampered through injuries as the year progressed on top of players being required by the league and colts teams also taking part in the finals.

Walters will remain no stranger to South Fremantle and Fremantle Community Bank Oval. He has also been appointed as an assistant coach to Michelle Cowan in the Fremantle Dockers' AFL Women's team.

Meanwhile, Litherland brings a wealth of experience and enthusiasm to the role as coach of the reserves for 2017 having been a volunteer in the WAFL system for 18 years now and having spent the last decade in various coaching roles.

The former police constable and Pride of Australia Medal winner began his coaching journey as an assistant coach for six years with the Jandakot Jets Junior Football Club beginning in 2005. He then became head coach for the 2011 and 2012 seasons.

Along the way, he became a development squad coach with East Perth in 2008 before stepping up to an assistant coach role with the Royals for the 2012 and 2013 WAFL seasons.

He joined South Fremantle in 2014 and over the past two years has been a senior assistant with the reserves to Walters while helping out where he could with the league side.

South Fremantle football operations manager David Depane has no doubt that Litherland is ready to take the next step with his coaching and is looking forward to him taking over in charge of the reserves, and taking on a more significant role with the league side under Todd Curley.

"Paul was the standout applicant for the role amongst numerous candidates. His professionalism and highly-regarded communication skills will be a valuable asset in the role as he prepares our young players for league football," Depane said.

"Paul has done a fantastic apprenticeship through the South Fremantle program the last few years. This has included coaching one of our academy development squads and being an assistant with the reserves in the 2015 and 2016 seasons.

"He has advanced his own coaching and mentoring skills by working closely with Todd and his assistants at league level. He has a key understanding of the structures expected by Todd and has a proven success in driving those expectations."