Fremantle assistant coach David Hale will depart the Club after six years to take on a coaching opportunity with Hawthorn.

He will join former teammate and new senior coach Sam Mitchell at the Hawks, working as an assistant.

Hale joined Fremantle in 2016 following his retirement from AFL football and most recently oversaw the Club’s forward line group.

He was also senior coach for one game in round 23 of the 2019 season following the departure of Ross Lyon.

Executive general manager of football Peter Bell said the Club was understanding of Hale’s decision to return to his home state and wished him well in the new role. 

“David’s been a really valued member of our coaching team, performing a variety of roles within his six years. The last couple of years, he’s been responsible for our forwards and also ball movement and had a real impact performing in that role,” Bell said.

“We’ve had an ongoing dialogue with David about broadening his coaching experience and as such, we had an understanding that at the appropriate time, if an opportunity came up for him at another club, then we’d be really supportive of him exploring those possibilities.

“As it’s eventuated, he has had that opportunity with Hawthorn, a club that he knows well and will work under a senior coach that he has a very close relationship with.

“It is with our support that we farewell him from Fremantle and we’re really excited for the opportunity that lies ahead for David, as well as his wife Teresa and their three children.”