Brad Gotch

Bradley Gotch (born 23 June 1962) is a former Australian rules footballer who played for Fitzroy and St Kilda in the Victorian/Australian Football League (VFL/AFL). He is currently the head coach of West Adelaide Football Club in the SANFL.

Brad Gotch
Personal information
Full name Bradley Gotch
Date of birth (1962-06-23) 23 June 1962
Original team(s) East Doncaster
Height 166 cm (5 ft 5 in)
Weight 64 kg (141 lb)
Playing career1
Years Club Games (Goals)
1982–1985 Fitzroy (VFL/AFL) 43 (60)
1985 Port Adelaide (SANFL) 11 (25)
1986–1990 St Kilda (VFL/AFL) 53 (62)
Coaching career
Years Club Games (W–L–D)
1996–1997 Springvale 042 (30–12–0)
2002–2009 Williamstown 161 (93–66–2)
2010–2011 Casey 040 (25–15–0)
2014–2016 South Adelaide 059 (36–22–1)
2021– West Adelaide 016 (2-16-0)
1 Playing statistics correct to the end of 2016.
Sources: AFL Tables, AustralianFootball.com

Gotch was one of smallest players of his era at 165 cm and possessed an accurate left foot pass. Debuting in 1982 for Fitzroy, Gotch played thirty games in his first three years. In 1985 he played three games in the first six rounds before being delisted by Fitzroy and finishing the season with Port Adelaide in the South Australian National Football League (SANFL). After impressing at Port Adelaide, he returned to Melbourne to play for the St Kilda Football Club. His best goal kicking feat was for St Kilda against his old side Fitzroy where he kicked seven goals in a game in 1987. He finished his career playing for Dandenong Football Club in the Victorian Football Association (VFA).[1]

Coaching career

Gotch coached Williamstown in the Victorian Football League (VFL) from 2002 to 2009, becoming the second-longest serving coach in the club's history, coaching the club to finals in six of the eight years including the 2003 VFL premiership.[2] He also worked in development coaching roles with both Collingwood and the Western Bulldogs alignments during those years. In 2010 Gotch was appointed senior coach of the Casey Scorpions, taking over from Peter German.[3] He joined Port Adelaide as an assistant coach on 19 October 2011.[4] In 2014, Gotch signed a two-year contract to coach South Adelaide in the SANFL.[5]

Gotch's sons also play high level sport. Xavier Gotch plays for South Adelaide under Gotch,[6] and Seb Gotch plays cricket for the Melbourne Stars.

References
  1. Holmesby, Russell; Main, Jim (2002). The Encyclopedia of AFL Footballers: every AFL/VFL player since 1897 (4th ed.). Melbourne, Victoria: Crown Content. p. 237. ISBN 1-74095-001-1.
  2. "Bulldogs Thank Brad Gotch - Official AFL Website of the Western Bulldogs". Archived from the original on 27 September 2009. Retrieved 2009-10-08.
  3. "Brad Gotch announced as Casey Coach - Official AFL Website of the Melbourne Football Club". Archived from the original on 13 October 2009. Retrieved 8 October 2009.
  4. "Power Adds Three Assistants - Official AFL Website of the Port Adelaide Football Club". Archived from the original on 23 October 2011. Retrieved 2011-10-19.
  5. "Experienced AFL assistant coach Brad Gotch to coach South Adelaide for next two years | The Advertiser". Archived from the original on 13 October 2013.
  6. Argent, Peter (21 July 2015). "Grassroots: SA footy round-up". InDaily. Solstice Media. Retrieved 22 July 2015.
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