LEAVING WA: Swan Districts forward and West Coast premiership player Ashley Hansen is returning to Victoria. Picture: Daniel Wilkins Source: PerthNow
WEST Coast premiership forward Ashley Hansen has called an end to his WAFL career with Swan Districts and will return to Melbourne to begin a job as a development coach with the Western Bulldogs.
Hansen played 78 games with the Eagles and 98 matches with Swans since moving west after being drafted by the Eagles 11 years ago.
The 29-year-old was the WAFL's leading goalkicker this season with 67 goals from 14 games and his departure leaves Swan Districts coach Greg Harding with a big hole to fill as the club seeks to build on its preliminary final appearance.
Hansen will begin a new career as a development coach at the Bulldogs tomorrow, in a role that also incorporates some sports science work. He has a sports science degree and is completing a masters in strength and conditioning.
"Over the last two years I've probably realised that the AFL industry is where my passion is," Hansen said.
"It's a perfect position for the way I want to head and I'm really impressed with the direction the Dogs are heading."
Hansen said he had a strong interest in both coaching and sports science.
"I'm not having an each-way bet, but I think your career evolves and I've definitely got a passion for both areas," he said.
"I think I've got a lot of experiences from my time in the game. Losing a Grand Final, winning a Grand Final, having to move interstate, having to work for a couple of years on a list and wait for opportunity; they're all experiences that hopefully I can help young players with."
Hansen's AFL career came to an abrupt end when he was delisted by West Coast at the end of the 2010 season at just 27 but he said he held no animosity towards the Eagles.
"I'd never carry regret. I've got too many great memories of that club and too many great friends,'' he said.
"You want to play for as long as you can, but the direction they were heading was definitely the right one and we've seen that by the rise of so many younger players and now being a serious premiership contender."
Hansen said his career highlights were his debut against Collingwood in 2004 and the 2006 flag triumph over Sydney after the Eagles had suffered an agonising loss to the Swans the previous year.
"That was amazing to be part of. The character that group showed that year is something I'll carry with me in the AFL life in a lot of different areas," he said.
"It just taught me and I think the group a lot about having a really strong resolve and that with having a strong mindset you can overcome anything."
Hansen said calling time on his WAFL career was the hardest element of his decision.
"The lure of always going one more year is there but I didn't want to run my body completely into the ground," he said.
"I've played footy every winter since I was nine years of age, so to be finishing up now, I think the first few rounds of the season will be hard not being out there."
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