Fremantle have expressed their sadness upon the departure of former All-Australian ruckman Aaron Sandilands, but are pleased to see former Lion Beau McDonald join the coaching staff as their new ruck coach starting today.
McDonald played 91 matches over 10 years from 1997-2008, winning two flags in 2001 and 2002 with the three-peating Brisbane Lions. After retiring, he spent three years as Brisbane's ruck coach before heading to his home state of Western Australia, eventually becoming the Head of Coaching at the WA Football Commission.
Fremantle's General Manager, Peter Bell welcomed McDonald to the club while commenting on the contribution of outgoing coach Aaron Sandilands.
โBeau's playing record speaks for itself, he is a dual premiership player who will impart his playing and coaching experience to our players, particularly our young rucks and ruck/forwards," Bell said in a club statement.
โDue to increasing work commitments, Aaron was unable to continue in his role as our Ruck Coach.
โWhilst we are sad to see Aaron depart, he is a passionate Fremantle person and we know he will continue to support the football department and the Club wholeheartedly, as he has always done."
Sandilands joined the Dockers' coaching crew in 2020 after an illustrious playing career at the club, playing 271 games and receiving four All-Australian blazers as the Fremantle ruckman and tallest player in the competition at 211cm.
He retired at the end of the 2019 season and will now depart the club entirely.
McDonald expressed his eagerness to join the club and work with an exciting ruck quartet in Sean Darcy, Luke Jackson and new draftees Max Knobel and Liam Reidy.
โI'm really excited, it feels like the first day at school just meeting everyone. I'm really looking forward to it,โ McDonald said.
โI'm looking forward to getting to work with our new rucks, I used to play with Trent Knobel, Max's dad, back at Brisbane, so it's such a small world that I'm now coaching his son.
โSean and Luke have both had excellent careers to date, so I'm really looking forward to seeing them improve and helping them with their game.โ
