West Coast great returns to Eagles in coaching role

“It’s a great opportunity and I’m looking forward to getting back into the club.”

West Coast great and premiership captain Shannon Hurn has returned to the Eagles, joining the club as a development coach for the 2025 season.

Hurn, the club’s all-time games record holder, called time on his 333-game career in the royal blue and gold last year after 18 years as an Eagles player.

After a year away from football, Hurn will slot into West Coast’s coaching cohort at the start of the club’s pre-season program for 2025 in a role that will help with game fundamentals for the young squad.

“I always had in the back of mind that I would take a year off and then make a decision about what I wanted to do,” Hurn said in a club announcement.

“I felt like coaching was the direction I wanted to take, but after 18 years in the AFL system I needed to take a step back to evaluate things.

“It’s a great opportunity and I’m looking forward to getting back into the club. Mainly to help the young kids, give them some tools about how to be successful at the AFL level, work out their strengths and where they can fit in the game.

“Just try to help them find their way in the first four to five years so they can hopefully set themselves up to have a great career.

“I have been fortunate enough to be around footy for a fair while. I have seen a few things, so it will be just nice to be able to pass that back to the player group and help them get back to being a successful footy club.

“Obviously the last few years haven’t been great and this is a good opportunity to be back in football and especially at West Coast.”

Hurn’s return to the club sees the 37-year-old reunite with premiership teammate Luke Shuey at the Eagles, with the Norm Smith Medal winner taking charge of stoppages in his first year as a development coach.

The Eagles have already confirmed the departure of forwards coach Matthew Knights following the 2024 season, while a position for Jarrad Schofield is yet to be confirmed following the interim coach’s push for the full-time senior coaching vacancy.

West Coast are expected to appoint their new coach as early as this month.