Peel Thunder has announced Geoff Valentine as their new Senior Coach, with Valentine making the move from West Perth after coaching the Falcons to three consecutive finals appearances.
Valentine replaces Cam Shepherd, who finished up in the role at the end of the 2021 season after nine seasons and back-to-back premierships in 2016 and 2017.
A former Falcons player in the WAFL, playing 56 games between 1992 and 1996, Valentine coached West Perth between 2019 and 2021. They qualified for finals in every season with Valentine at the helm, highlighted by a preliminary final appearance in 2020.
Peel Thunder’s General Manager of Football Operations Matt Rosa said he and the club were thrilled with the appointment.
“We are really excited to have Geoff on board as our new Senior Coach,” Rosa said.
“Geoff is an amazing cultural fit for our football club and his extensive experience developing young men will be great for our emerging list.
“We feel Geoff’s education background, his ability to build strong relationships with players and staff and a sound knowledge of the game are some of the key strengths he will bring to the role.
“We welcome Geoff, his wife Vinny and three daughters to the Peel Thunder family and look forward to getting to work on our 2022 campaign.”
Valentine said he was looking forward to getting started in his new role.
“I’m excited to meet the playing group this week and getting to know each of them and then in time meeting their families as we prepare for the 2022 WAFL Season,” Valentine said.
“There are a lot of synergies between the two clubs and I believe that as long as you’ve got good people you can navigate your way. Both Peel Thunder and the Fremantle Football Club have some great people driving their programs and building strong lists, you can see some incredibly talented kids coming through.
“I’m really passionate about investing in the community which is something I believe this role will allow me to do across the Peel Region, especially in player development.”
Fremantle’s Executive General Manager of Football Peter Bell said Valentine would play a crucial role in the ongoing successful alignment between Fremantle and Peel.
“On behalf of everyone at the Club I would like to welcome Geoff and his family to both Peel and Fremantle,” Bell said.
“On top of his duties as Peel’s senior coach, Geoff will work closely with Fremantle’s development coaches in the important role of overseeing our younger players as they get valuable experience at a senior level.
“We are pleased that Geoff had the full support of West Perth in applying for this position. His passion, education and teaching background, as well as philosophies and experience in coaching, led to us supporting Peel with this decision.”
