Fremantle’s newly appointed NAB AFL Women’s coach Trent Cooper is aiming for quick success at the helm of his new team.

Cooper was announced as Fremantle’s successor to Michelle Cowan on Thursday. He has previously tasted success in a premiership as the senior coach of the Swan Districts colts team in 2014 and took on a role at the WA Football Commission as the female high performance coach and WA women’s U18s coach in 2017.

Having worked with the future of West Australian women’s footy, Cooper believes that Fremantle is well placed going into the coming season. 

“Some of the talent coming through is quite exciting and no doubt, some of those girls will be on the list for next year,” Cooper said.

“We probably haven’t been able to deliver the success the fans would like but, hopefully, we can turn that around pretty quickly and enjoy some sustained success over the coming years.” 

Cooper, who also played WAFL league football for Peel Thunder and Swan Districts between 1997 and 1999, said he places a high importance on the fundamentals in his coaching.

“It doesn’t matter what level you’re at, the basic skills can always be improved upon,” Cooper said. 

“I’ll aim to get in and work with the girls on their fundamental skills and get those basics right during the pre-season. 

“The main thing will be to work on those skills, so we can make sure our girls are right up there with the top sides.”

Having coached both male and female football since first taking up the profession in 2000, Cooper said his switch to the women’s game only fuelled his passion for coaching.

“I knew a little bit about women’s football just from watching it but from when I got more involved, I fell in love with it immediately,” Cooper said.

“The enthusiasm of the girls, how willing they are to learn and how quickly they learn, that’s what’s driven my passion as a coach.

“You love to be able to see that you’re making a difference.”

Cooper says he finds he’s been able to get more out of his female footy players.

“There’s a lot of similarities and a lot of differences between women’s and men’s footy,” Cooper said. 

“There’s probably too many to go through but I’ve found that the girls learn quicker than the boys, they’re a lot more open to new ideas and take those things on really quickly. 

“The fact that they improve quickly makes it really rewarding to coach them.”