WEST Coast may not be entering the AFLW competition until 2020, but the Eagles have already appointed a senior coach, with Luke Dwyer to take the reins.
Dwyer is a development coach with the club's AFL side which won the 2018 premiership.
He began coaching after finishing his WAFL playing career in 2007, which saw him play 146 games with East Perth and Claremont.
Dwyer won four flags in five years with West Australian amateur club University.
"It is exciting to be involved in a project of this nature from its infancy," Dwyer told westcoasteagles.com.au.
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"Obviously we have had a number of people in place, laying the foundations for our entry into the AFLW competition.
"Just as importantly, they have identified some outstanding young talent and have been nurturing their development over the last 12 to 18 months.
"The AFLW competition has been a revelation in the last two years and we are very much looking forward to being a part of it.
"As the father of two daughters, it's fantastic that there is now a pathway for women to play elite football, and on a personal level I'm rapt to get the opportunity."
West Coast has been preparing for its AFLW entry for several years. The Eagles have a high-performance female academy overseen by Jan Cooper, who has been involved in women's footy for over 25 years.
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Cooper told the club website Dwyer had been working with the academy in recent weeks.
"His enthusiasm for the role has certainly been evident from the outset," Cooper said.
"He's got great energy and drive and has quickly developed relationships with the players.
"He has embraced the role whole-heartedly, looking through vision of AFLW games to study opposition talent and helping to identify potential recruits."
Dwyer will be supported by former Fremantle AFLW senior coach Michelle Cowan, East Fremantle premiership coach Nikki Harwood, 2006 Norm Smith medallist Andrew Embley and the Eagles' 1994 premiership ruckman Ryan Turnbull.
