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Laidley misses out to Hyett as Bulldogs' AFLW coach

3 minute read

Former professional golfer and Melbourne assistant Tamara Wyett is now an AFLW senior coach, beating Danielle Laidley to the Western Bulldogs role.

PAUL GROVES.
PAUL GROVES. Picture: Michael Willson/AFL Media/Getty Images

Tamara Wyett will make her AFLW senior coaching debut, having beaten Danielle Laidley to the role at the Western Bulldogs.

Wyett, an assistant coach in Melbourne's 2022 women's premiership season, has been given the job of rebuilding the Bulldogs after last season's wooden spoon.

The club won only one game and it cost Nathan Burke his job after five seasons.

They are the last AFLW team to confirm their senior coach for next season.

Laidley, who coached North Melbourne in the AFL for seven seasons, had said she was keen to have another senior role.

Paul Groves, who coached the Bulldogs to the 2018 premiership, was reportedly also in the running to return.

But the Bulldogs chose Wyett, a former professional golfer who played at the Australian Open.

She was a latecomer to women's football, coaching at the Sandringham Dragons in Melbourne before joining the Demons.

Wyett was awarded an AFL Coaches Association women's pathway scholarship two years ago.

She left Melbourne at the end of last season after a straight-sets finals exit ended their premiership defence.

"It's a really proud moment. Driving in here, I was thinking about the last six years, and being a western suburbs girl myself I'm just extremely proud," she said.

"This is a foundation club who were supporting women's football even prior to AFLW. It's not lost on me how special that is.

"There's some really exciting talent here and it's really refreshing too. I'm just really excited about the current group.

"The upcoming season is unwritten, and it's all unknown - that's what is really exciting. We can shape our own narrative."

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