Western Bulldogs AFL assistant coach Matt Spangher has been awarded the 2025 Phil Walsh Memorial Scholarship.
The scholarship was created following Phil Walsh’s tragic death in July 2015, with the annual winner receiving a $10,000 grant to help coaches develop and follow the example Phil set during his coaching career.
Spangher, a premiership player for Hawthorn in 2014, first took charge of the Bulldogs’ forward line in 2022.
His football CV includes an 11-year career with games at Sydney, West Coast and Hawthorn, before retiring and entering Collingwood’s football department.
Spangher’s passion for relationships built on trust, clear honest communication and the want to be a better coach and person for those around him shines through.
“I am absolutely honoured to receive the Phil Walsh Memorial Scholarship,” Spangher said.
“Phil was a great mentor and coach to me over my playing journey and it is very humbling to receive an award named in his honour. He was a terrific person who created amazing relationships with his players and worked extremely hard at his craft as a coach.
“I don’t take for granted the privilege of working in football, and this scholarship will enable me to continue to grow and develop as a coach, bringing my learnings and experiences back to the Bulldogs into the future.”
Senior coach Luke Beveridge congratulated Spangher.
‘With Matt’s connection to Phil through his playing days at West Coast, there is another emotional layer in this award in 2025,” Beveridge said.
“Matt has been a very conscientious student of the game as a player and now he is in a privileged and powerful position to influence young men as a coach in a similar way to how he was influenced by Phil Walsh on his journey.
“Matt does this extremely well, is a great character and coach at the Western Bulldogs and it is with great satisfaction and pride that on behalf of the Club, I congratulate Spang as the recipient of the Phil Walsh scholarship for 2025.”
AFL Coaches Association CEO Alistair Nicholson reflected on the impact Phil Walsh made to football and coaching.
“The Phil Walsh Memorial Scholarship reminds us of Phil’s relentless curiosity and care for people in the game. He had an impact on many of our members and the broader industry, and so we are very pleased to announce another worthy winner,” Nicholson said.
“Matt has been recognised for his commitment and passion to his playing group and professional development. The scholarship from the AFLCA will assist Matt to continue to further this growth and provide opportunities to aid his development at this point of his coaching career.
“The industry will benefit greatly from Matt receiving this scholarship.”
Previous winners: Phil Walsh Memorial Scholarship
2016 - Ben Rutten
2017 - Adrian Hickmott
2018 - Aaron Greaves
2019 - Damien Truslove
2020 - Luke Kelly
2021 - Scott Selwood
2022 - Neville Jetta
2023 - Tim Clarke
2024 - Brad Ebert
