Pyke Rejoins West Coast

Dual Claremont Football Club and West Coast Eagles Premiership Player Don Pyke will join West Coast's new coaching department, led by Adam Simpson, in an assistant role, specialising in strategy, stoppages and structure.

Pyke played 63 games for the Tigers between the years of 1987 & 1996, kicked 90 goals, won the club's Fairest & Best Award in1988, played in Claremont's 1987 & 1996 Premiership Teams and Coached the Club during 1999 & 2000.

Pyke joined the West Coast Eagles in 1989 where he was a member of the WCE premiership teams in 1992 and 1994. Pyke played 132 games for the Eagles, sharing the 1993 Club Champion Award with Glen Jakovich, and being named in both West Coast’s Team of the Decade and Team 20.

After his retirement at the end of the 1996 season, Pyke held a number of roles with the West Coast Eagles, serving as a team runner for two seasons and, following a stint coaching the Claremont Football Club, returned as a director for four years, chairing the football affairs committee until 2004.

In 2005, Pyke served as an assistant coach at the Adelaide Crows under Neil Craig for two seasons, before returning to Western Australia in 2007 to pursue business interests within a private oil and gas company, Finder Exploration Pty Ltd.

In recent times, Pyke has assisted Claremont Football Club on a part-time basis, advising their coaching and leadership groups.

Pyke said the new coaching position was an exciting opportunity.

“After several years out of the AFL scene, I am really looking forward to working with Adam Simpson and the other coaches in maximising the output of the squad, which I think has real potential,” Pyke said.

“It is nice to be back working at the club I played for as we prepare for the challenge to rebound after a disappointing season.

“As far as I’m concerned, pre-season can’t come soon enough.”