NT Thunder is delighted to announce Tim Weatherald as Head Coach of its inaugural VFL Women’s side for 2018.
A familiar name amongst the Territory’s footy community, Weatherald and his family moved to Darwin at the end of 2014 when he was appointed senior and club coach of the Waratah Football Club for the following two years.
In a part-time capacity, he was the head coach of the NTFL Premier League team while also overseeing management of all other teams, players, volunteers and officials at the Tahs.
Weatherald takes up the NT Thunder role with an excellent understanding of state-based competitions after playing for 17 years (311 games) with the Sturt and Norwood Football clubs in Adelaide’s SANFL competition.
In 2002 he won the Magarey Medal, the highest award bestowed on an SANFL player and after retiring as a player transitioned smoothly into the coaching ranks.
His South Australian coaching credentials include the SANFL State Under 16 team, being an assistant coach at the Norwood Football Club and head coach of the North Adelaide Under 18 Centre of Excellence.
Weatherald’s coaching experience also includes a year with the 2016 NT Thunder NEAFL side and has so far seen him contribute to the development of 31 players who today are on AFL lists.
In 2013, he completed his Level 3 High Performance Coaching degree and away from footy he is the Director of Elite and Community Sport at the Essington School Darwin.
It will be Weatherald’s first foray in coaching an elite women’s team, an opportunity that he said was full of possibilities.
“I’ve never directly coached women, though I was fortunate to spend a bit of time with the Waratah women’s team during my time there.
“When I was speaking to the club about the NT Thunder role it had similarities to my role with the North Adelaide under 18s, those players just wanted to play at the highest level they could and here we’ve got that plus all the facilities, structures and support around us to make something good. It’s really exciting,” he said.
Weatherald said once he was interested in the position he spent time scoping out the local women’s games and taking notes, and though eager to get stuck into the role, he was keen to let the players finish their finals and concentrate on their commitments to their NTFL clubs.
“I have been watching the development of women’s football closely over the past four years and relish the opportunity to work with these women to develop their skills, game style and get them playing structured, exciting, winning football.
“But it’s important they concentrate on NTFL and see their seasons through properly. That will also give me time to become familiar with all the talented players outside of Darwin, so I don’t expect we’ll be sending out invites or announcing signings until a couple of weeks after the Women’s Premier League grand final,” Weatherald said.
AFL Northern Territory Director of Coaching and NT Thunder NEAFL Head Coach, Andrew Hodges said he was thrilled to have someone of Weatherald’s calibre join the team.
“Tim’s experience and expertise speak volumes and amongst his accolades what also stood out was his belief in driving strong club values and his eagerness for players to be good performers on and off the field.
“We will work closely together along with the other NT Thunder academy coaches to ensure our programs are pathways that provide opportunities for players to reach their full potential,” Hodges said.
Tim Weatherald
DOB: 31/07/1977
Playing career
Sturt Football Club (SANFL) 1995 – 2007 (253 games)
Norwood Football Club (SANFL) – 2008 – 2010 (58 games)
2002 Magarey Medallist
2005 awarded Life Membership of SANFL
Coaching career
SANFL Football State Under 16 assistant coach – 2010 – 2012
Norwood Football Club League-Reserves and Under 16 assistant coach – 2010 – 2012
Prince Alfred College – Head Coach of AFL Football Academy – 2013 – 2014
Waratah Football Club Men’s Premier League coach and Club coach – 2014 – 2016
NT Thunder NEAFL assistant coach – 2016