Experienced heads to lead South Mandurah into 2018 Peel Football and Netball League seasons

Peel region footy figureheads Paul Pannell and Craig Callaghan have taken over the reins for the Falcons’ league side as joint head coaches, bringing with them a wealth of knowledge and coaching experience.

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Pannell led Waroona’s league side to three consecutive premierships from 2009-2011 after spending time as an assistant coach in Peel Thunder’s league side.

He coached a two-year stint at the Harvey Bulls in the South West Football League and most recently helped Pinjarra take out the 2017 PFNL grand final in an assistant’s role.

An ex-AFL player, Callaghan spent time at both Fremantle and St Kilda before retiring from the top level to return to Swan Districts in the WAFL.

His credentials are well known throughout the region, having coached Peel Thunder’s colts side before a stint with Waroona in the PFNL.

Pannell said the duo would prioritise developing South Mandurah’s crop of young players, which has brought the club back-to-back colts premierships over the past two seasons.

“We’ve got such a strong group of young kids, so it’s our job to make sure they really progress through the ranks and we’ll look to them to feature pretty heavily in our league team this year,” he said.

“We’ll definitely see plenty of debuts in 2018, but having said that our expectation is still to be a threatening finals team.”

Shane Shanahan will again lead the club’s reserves as they look to overcome a grand final loss to Baldivis in 2017, while Craig Rakich has landed at the Falcons nest as head coach of the colts.

PFNL all time games-played record holder Solomon Daw will lead the club’s women’s team through their first ever campaign.

“I’m thrilled to be involved in the first ever Southies women’s team – it’s my first ever coaching gig and it’s nice to have a group that seem so eager to learn,” Daw said.

South Mandurah’s coup of experienced coaches also translated to their netball sector, with state-level coach Naomi Pannell to lead the league side accompanied by Gay Nash (reserves) and Kylie Kulij (open)

Pannell said the trio was looking forward to acting as a single coaching unit.

“We’ve got such a great group of girls that are really committed to training and becoming better netballers,” she said.

“So for the three of us – who have all been around places like the Mandurah Netball Association and Coastal Sharks for a while – it’s about sharing what we know with them and making sure they can develop.”

The PFNL’s footy season kicks off on Saturday, April 7, while the netball will follow two weeks behind with a start date scheduled for Saturday, April 21.