The West Coast Eagles have today appointed former player Michael Prior to the role of senior coach of the AFLW program.

Prior replaces Daniel Pratt, who has been in the role for the past 18 months, but with changing circumstances he will return to the AFL coaching staff.

The change in the scheduled start to the AFLW season to now begin in January, unavoidable with the current situation on the east coast with the COVID-19 pandemic, has triggered the need to change.

Pratt’s partner Rachel is due to give birth to the couple’s second child early in the new year and the possibility of AFLW hubs and quarantine periods made it problematic for him to commit totally to the role.

Daniel Pratt has stepped aside as AFLW senior coach

Prior will transition from head coach of West Coast Eagles Women’s High Performance Academy into the AFLW head coach role. He brings over 25 years of AFL playing experience with both Essendon and the Eagles and coaching experience with East Perth and the Dockers.

Pratt will support Prior in a coach mentoring capacity as well as transitioning back into the AFL program, having also coached the WAFL Eagles this season.

Prior will be joined on the coaching panel Kerry O’Sullivan and Pia Faletti who were both recent members of the WCE women’s coaching program. This year Kerry coached the State under-17 and under-19 women’s teams and Pia was head coach of Subiaco’s Rodgers Cup team.