The Western Bulldogs are delighted to announce the appointment of Tamara Hyett as AFLW senior coach.
Hyett, a former professional golfer, has spent the last four seasons serving as an assistant coach of Melbourne’s AFLW team, building a wealth of knowledge and experience within the competition and playing a key role in the Demons’ premiership-winning campaign in 2022.
Prior to this, she was head coach of the Sandringham Dragons Girls team for three years.
Hyett was also a recipient of the AFLCA women’s coaching pathway scholarship in 2022.
“We’re thrilled to welcome Tamara to the red, white and blue as our AFLW senior coach,” said Chris Grant, Bulldogs Executive Director of Football.
“Tamara has a wealth of knowledge and coaching experience, particularly in women’s football, as well as a lived understanding of what it takes to be a professional athlete.
“Leading one of the competition’s best backlines at Melbourne and being involved in a successful AFLW program over a long period puts Tamara in good stead to take this team forward and guide the improvement of a talented bunch of women.
“We can’t wait to see Tamara make this program her own.”
Bulldogs CEO Ameet Bains echoed Grant’s sentiments as Hyett prepares to take the helm of the AFLW team ahead of the 2024 season.
“We’re extremely excited to have someone of Tamara’s calibre join our Club,” Bains said.
“Throughout the recruitment process, Tamara impressed us with her leadership capabilities and the clear articulation of her coaching philosophy and ambitions for our women’s program.
“Her unique blend of experience within both elite girls and elite women’s football lends itself to Tamara building a high-performing culture that develops and grows the exciting young players on our list.
“We are thrilled to be making this appointment for our AFLW program as we strive for consistent performance and sustained success on field.”
Hyett said she was thankful for the opportunity, and can’t wait to lead the Club’s next chapter.
“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.”
Hyett becomes the third senior coach in the AFLW side’s history, and one of five female head coaches across the league.
