John has been coaching football since 1984, when he started at the Karrinyup Junior Football Club and coached the State schoolboys side that same year. He then progressed to the Claremont Football Club as coach of the reserves for seven years, and then in 1994 coached the West Coach amateurs as well as his son’s under-13 Whitfords team.

From 1995 to 1999 John coached West Perth in the WAFL and then moved to Fremantle as an assistant coach for the 2000 season. John then spent two years as director of coaching at West Perth before joining South Fremantle, who he has coached now for six years. John said South Fremantle had an extremely talented list this year and he would have been disappointed if they didn’t make the grand final.

“The Grand Final against Subiaco was typical of such an important game,” he said. “Both teams were physically hard in the first half with little separating them. Fortunately, we managed to gain a decisive break in the third term and went on to win.”

John said coaching gave him a real sense of achievement in both the long and short term. “Long term can be judged over the years and short term within a game,” he explained. “The fulfillment players obtain from striving to improve their own skills and playing ability also brings enjoyment.”

John’s career highlights are the many grand finals he has been involved in. “This is something that all players and coaches strive for every year.”

This year at Christ Church, John coached the Year 8s.