One champion for another at West Brunswick

West Brunswick has made two significant announcements recently, with beloved senior men’s coach Nick Mitchell making the move to Queensland and being replaced by fellow club champion, Louis Martin.

Mitchell, who played AFL with Fitzroy FC, was a premiership player with the Westies in 2014 and took the senior coaching reins in 2019.

Mitchell’s captain in the 2014 premiership year was in fact Martin, who also captained the 2015 flag and played in 2008.

Read the club statements about both men below:

Nick Mitchell

The West Brunswick Amateur Football Club is sad to announce that Nick Mitchell’s time as our men’s senior coach has drawn to an end, with the former Fitzroy AFL player, and VAFA stalwart making the big move to the Sunshine state.

Nick has a long history at West Brunswick, playing in the 2014 senior Premiership side under coach Angus Hamilton, who Nick then joined on the sidelines in the 2018 season as a senior assistant coach. We were thrilled in 2019 to welcome Mitch back to the club in the senior coaching position and have watched on as he led the men’s playing group through two seasons of extreme uncertainty and change with composure and conviction. Mitch brought a large group of mostly new WB players together as a team, and more broadly as a club, and set a high bar for his players that pushed them to put in 100% even when the season was hanging by a thread with lockdowns looming.

Unfortunately, with the disruptions of COVID, we weren’t able to see how far the team could go on the field once they made finals, and we’re sorry that Mitch was unable to close out the year with a shot at a premiership, but the work he has put in with the group over the past two years has certainly set the club up for success on the field in 2022.

The club extends its thanks to Mitch for everything he has given West Brunswick during his time as senior men’s coach. We were extremely lucky to have someone with his experience, knowledge and passion leading the club, and will miss having him around in 2022.

Louis Martin

West Brunswick AFC is thrilled to announce the appointment of Louis ‘Marto’ Martin to the position of Senior Men’s Coach for 2022.

Marto has a storied history as a player for West Brunswick, having played over 150 games, including as a member of the 2008 Seniors Premiership team, and as Captain of the club through the back-to-back premierships in 2014 & 2015. Marto is also a best and fairest winner and was named the captain of the WBAFC’s first team of the decade for the period 2010-2019.

Marto was appointed Reserves Men’s coach in 2021 and lead the undefeated group to a minor premiership through a successful but interrupted season, with the cancelled finals meaning the team was unable to contest a premiership.

Having worked closely this year with outgoing Senior Men’s Coach, Nick Mitchell, Marto’s appointment will provide great continuity for the club to build on the foundations of success which were laid down this year, and to prepare for continued success in 2022 and beyond.

Photo: West Brunswick