As teenagers they sat alongside one another in school classrooms, but over a decade on when newly appointed Development Coach Ashley Hansen sat down at Whitten Oval with Bulldogs captain Matthew Boyd yesterday it was under different circumstances.
"We reintroduced ourselves on the first day yesterday and I was excited to see Boydy,” said Hansen after recently returning to Melbourne to accept the coaching role at the Kennel.
“I sat next to him in Phys Ed class in Year 12 and went through all my high school schooling at Mazenod with him.
BulldogsTV caught up with new Development Coach Ashley Hansen this morning, watch on the media player above.
BulldogsTV caught up with new Development Coach Ashley Hansen this morning, watch on the media player above.
"It is a bit of a weird appointment to be back as a coach while he is still captain.
“I was really good mates with him at school, so yeah, looking forward to continuing that relationship now down at the Dogs.”
Hansen joins the Bulldogs with an AFL Premiership medallion around his neck and an enthusiasm to help players improve and grow.
The former West Coast Eagles forward was swayed to join the Dogs' coaching ranks after a meeting with senior coach Brendan McCartney, who detailed the Club’s direction and the opportunity in front of them.
“That was one of the things [that stood out] when I met with the Club initially about the possibility of joining, just the culture that Brendan is trying to create here,” Hansen said.
“Along with the young coaching group and the young player list I think it is a great opportunity that you can really build a culture and a foundation for sustained success over a number of years.
“And to be a part from that and just start at this stage was something that really excited me.”
Lining up in Eagles colours for almost a decade including the 2006 Premiership side and 2005 Grand Final runners up, Hansen is keen to impart his knowledge and experience onto the current Bulldogs playing group.
“Ten years in Perth was a great time, I really enjoyed it,” he said.
“Winning and losing a Grand Final was obviously the highlight and the lowlight, so I would like to think that I have that to offer this group that will hopefully be contending in grand finals in years to come.”
Hansen also brings a sports science background to the position which will see him help facilitate players’ re-immersion into training as a final stage of injury rehabilitation.
“I would like to think that would complement my coaching and my role here which will be 25% sports science in helping the guys return to play,” he said.
“So after they are injured and they are working with physios I am that transition back onto hopefully playing - but not [just] coming back to play but play well.”
The 29 year old has most recently filled the role of Assistant Coach for WAFL Club Swan Districts where his main focus was on developing a young and emerging forward group.
“I am going to be as enthusiastic as they are to watch them improve,” he said.
“So, hopefully we can work together and really drive each other to be the best players.
“I am looking forward to working with them and seeing how they can develop over the course of the year and making sure their skill set is one that will hopefully win finals one day.”
