Tayla Bresland is enjoying her time in the WAWFL as one of a number of Fremantle players building for a big season in 2019.

Bresland was at the club on Wednesday night to meet new AFLW senior coach Trent Cooper, with Cooper taking the reins from inaugural coach Michelle Cowan.

The former Swan Districts and Peel Thunder player has an impressive coaching resume, including working as an assistant coach for the Swan Districts league team and coaching their colts to a premiership in 2014.

Since 2017, Cooper’s focus turned to the women’s game as the coach of the WA U18 women’s team and commencing his role in women’s high performance with the WAFC. 

“This is the first time I’ve met him. He looks like he’s a good fella and knows his stuff so it’s going to be interesting to see where he can take us,” Bresland said. 

“It’s really good to see that we’ve still got heaps of talent left in the team after the trade period. It’s exciting for us this year.”

The defender reached the 100-game milestone for Peel Thunderbirds in a thrilling four-point victory on Sunday against East Fremantle in a result that could go on to decide the minor premiership.

East Fremantle went into the game unbeaten after 10 games with Peel one win behind. The two teams are soaring and working to break a six-year stranglehold of Swan Districts and Subiaco (formerly Coastal Titans) on the title. 

With the win, Peel are now equal with the Sharks with 10 wins from 11 games, trailing East Fremantle on percentage.

“I think I’ve been at Peel when I was about 14 so that’s about seven or eight seasons down there now to get to 100,” Bresland said.

“It’s good. I’m training hard down there and we’re doing well this year and we’ve had a couple wins.

“We just beat East Fremantle, who are top of the ladder, in my 100th game so it was good to finally knock them off but there’s still a lot of hard work to go yet.” 


Tayla Bresland runs through the banner ahead of her 100th WAWFL game

Bresland is the only current Fremantle AFLW player on Peel’s list but has high hopes for a number of up and coming players.

“There’s a few girls that are rising up at Peel. We have a lot of rookies that are first-year players this year so there’s a lot of talent coming through, especially in the younger years so it’s good,” Bresland said.

East Fremantle fielded two Fremantle players in the game in Ashlee Atkins and Evie Gooch and has a further four Freo players in Gabby O’Sullivan, Mel Caulfield, Alex Williams and Brianna Green in their ranks. 

“You give them a bump but help them up in the end,” Bresland said.

“You’re always friends when the game’s over,” Bresland said about coming up against her Freo teammates.” 

While a potential WAWFL premiership is on her mind, Bresland’s goal for the remainder of the year is to be fit and healthy for AFLW pre-season.

“I really just want to get my body ready,” Bresland said.

“I had a bit of a shocking season doing my knee last year so it’s just getting my body in the best shape possible for the 2019 season.”