Fremantle have confirmed the appointment of Mark LeCras, as the club’s part time specialist forwards coach.
The former West Coast forward, who played 219 games between 2005 and 2018, is set to help out Freo’s forwardline for one day a week for the 2020 season.
LeCras said he was looking forward to getting to work with senior coach Justin Longmuir, who coached LeCras in their time at the Eagles.
“I worked with ‘Longy’ pretty closely for about five or six years at West Coast, he was my line coach for a long time and we had a good relationship when it came to coaching and playing,” LeCras said.
“Away from the footy field as well, we got along really well and formed a good friendship.
“It’s exciting for me, it’s a similar role to what I was doing in the last few years of my footy career, when I was trying helping out the younger players.”
LeCras said he was looking forward to getting to work at a new team, even if it was at his cross-town rivals from his playing days.
“It’s probably been the hardest thing to get my head around, crossing over to the other side of town,” LeCras said.
“For me, footy is about people and the relationships that you build along the way and I’m excited to come down and meet a completely new squad, new staff members and start fresh.
“As much as I’m nervous about it, it’s exciting with a bit of the unknown - coming to Freo and helping out the guys I’ve competed against for quite a few years.”
General manager of football Peter Bell said LeCras would bring some important recent playing experience to the coaching team.
“Mark is a legend of WA football and a premiership player, and we look forward to seeing what he can bring to our coaching structure in his part time capacity,” Bell said.
“He already has a great working relationship with Justin Longmuir and we look forward to him sharing his experience as a great player of the modern game to our developing playing group.”
