Ex-Fremantle AFLW coach Trent Cooper has broken his silence on his shock exit, claiming it was an “unpopular decision” made by the club.
Cooper was told earlier this month that his contract would not be renewed, despite taking the Dockers to four straight finals appearances.
But injury and form woes ensured the Dockers missed finals for the first time under Cooper in AFLW season seven, and he was told his services were no longer needed.
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“I thought I had a lot to offer the group.
“I definitely thought I had the full support of the players. We were really struggling and playing poor footy in the first half of the year. It could have gone pear-shaped at that point, but I thought the players dug in really deep.”
Cooper, who says he is considering “a couple of options” likely interstate, believes the AFL has taken away from the AFLW’s “standard” by expanding the competition so quickly.
What started as an eight-team competition in 2017 has already ballooned out to the full 18 clubs in just a few years.
“If they had of stuck to the eight teams originally, the standard would be unbelievable,” Cooper said.
“But there’d be growing pains somewhere.”
Cooper has all but ruled out a return to Fremantle and admits a year away from the game could be on the cards.
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“There’s a couple of options open at the moment and I’ve sort of got to give myself a little bit of air to work out what the best thing to do,” he said.
“Obviously I was involved in the men’s side of things before part the development so that’s definitely of interest.
“Interstate, options are open there and will definitely consider that.
“I think a year away is probably the right thing anyway. It would also be hard for the next AFLW coach – everyone works together (at Fremantle). If I was the coach, I wouldn’t want the next coach sitting in the next office (if he stayed on at the Dockers).”
While admitting he had regrets over how Fremantle’s pre-season was run before the shock season seven result, Cooper believes the Dockers remain a “genuine top four side”.
“We went two years without losing a last quarter,” he said.
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“If I had my time again, (I’d) go harder at that pre-season for sure.
“I think we’re a genuine top four side with everyone available.
“I’ve been there five years, and we’ve only be able to recruit one player – I think at the moment our list sits as strong as the top three – Melbourne, Adelaide, Brisbane. So you need players to come in or those (big three) to be weakened somehow. The side is not far away at all and can rebound really quickly.
“Hopefully they don’t lose too many now (in the off-season). Trying to track players from the east across on the money is not easy.”
