By Mark Murray
WILLIAMSTOWN Football Club announced a new three-year alignment with the Western Bulldogs on Friday.
Seagulls president Trevor Monti said the news was exciting for his football club, which wasted no time forming an alliance with another AFL club just weeks after its partnership with Collingwood ended.
Brad Gotch was also appointed coach of Williamstown for a further two seasons, and has crossed from the Magpies to the Bulldogs as a development coach.
“It is a momentous day for Williamstown as they have forged an alignment with the other biggest club in the western suburbs, the Western Bulldogs,” Monti said.
“Williamstown sees great opportunity for both clubs to achieve success from the alignment and the club looks forward to working closely with the Western Bulldogs coaches and staff in achieving great things in the future.
“We are looking forward to this alignment with great anticipation and know it will enable both clubs to grow.
“Williamstown will assist the Bulldogs with their rise up the ladder while we continue to win VFL premierships.”
Gotch will work closely with the Western Bulldogs’ youth in his new role as development coach.
Western Bulldogs president David Smorgon believes the new structure will fast-track the development of the Dogs.
“This partnership holds many benefits for our club from the obvious football aspect with the player development through to establishing another strong community alignment within the West of Melbourne,” he said.
“Williamstown Football Club and the Western Bulldogs are both community-minded clubs and it is exciting to see the clubs rejoin as partners,” he said.
Bulldogs coach Rodney Eade can also the see the benefit to the football department with Gotch on board as a full-time VFL coach.
Gotch has been an assistant at Collingwood since 2003, taking charge of the Seagulls and leading them to the ultimate success in 2003.
He also coached Dandenong and Springvale to premierships in 1991 and 1999 respectively.
He has 13 years’ experience in the AFL/VFL system and was a former player with Fitzroy and St Kilda.
“We are excited about the alignment and the experience that Brad Gotch will bring to our club,” Eade said. “It will provide the support our young players need to grow with the game.”
Williamstown will continue to play its home matches at Burbank Oval, but will utilise Whitten Oval for training during the summer and possibly throughout the season.
