West Coast is delighted to announce highly-credentialed coach Robert Wiley will take charge of the WAFL Eagles next season.

Wiley will lead the club’s standalone team after an agreement was reached for the Eagles’ reserves to continue in the 10-team state league competition for the next three years.

An inaugural West Coast player, life member and current No.1 ticketholder, Wiley was the right-hand man to dual premiership coach Mick Malthouse in the 1990s and continued as a valued assistant coach until the successful 2006 campaign under John Worsfold.

Wiley, who was a premiership player at Perth and Richmond, also coached at Carlton alongside Malthouse and was East Fremantle’s senior coach between 2016-18.

“We are thrilled Rob has agreed to return to the club in a coaching capacity and his vast experience will be invaluable for the WAFL Eagles,” West Coast CEO Trevor Nisbett said.

“Rob’s understanding of the game is second-to-none and he has a proven track record of developing young players.” 

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Nisbett was also pleased to reach an agreement with the West Australian Football Commission and nine other WAFL clubs for the WAFL Eagles to remain in the state league.

“It has always been our preference to field a standalone team in the WAFL as the best way to develop our players, however the situation had become unworkable under the previous arrangement,” Nisbett said.

“This agreement allows for greater flexibility in recruiting and fixturing rights, which will help us appropriately resource the WAFL Eagles and better educate our players in a competitive team.”