Sonny Side Up For Coaching Role

Former Fremantle Dockers champion Michael Walters has spoken of his excitement at being involved in this weekend’s high-performance AFL Indigenous Academy Camp in Melbourne, featuring WA’s most talented young Indigenous and Multicultural footballers.

The camp will feature a showcase match between the Indigenous Academy and the Multicultural Academy.

Walters will act as an assistant coach for the Indigenous side where he will be looking after the forwards.

Ex Melbourne defender and fellow West Australian Neville Jetta and former Port Adelaide and Hathorn star Chad Wingard have also been appointed assistants.

Former Docker and Walters’ ex-teammate Roger Hayden is the head coach.

“I was approached by Roger along with the AFL, and because I have a desire to remain in footy, I grabbed the chance with both hands,” Walters said.

Despite dipping his toe into coaching, Walters is hesitant about looking at it as a long-term ambition.

“I don’t have a great appetite to become heavily involved in the coaching space.

“I prefer to get around players and teach them elements of the game, and as we all know, coaching is a tough role to be successful at.”

The AFL Indigenous and Multicultural Academies comprise talented 17 and 18-year-old Indigenous and Multicultural footballers, many of whom meet the AFL’s Next Generation Academy criteria.

Players selected in the Academies currently participate in state Talent Pathways programs.

Each of the Academies for boys and girls support up to 25 players who will feature in two high-performance football camps throughout the 2026 season.

Walters has recently started at WA Football as Indigenous and Multicultural Relationship Manager in the Performance Pathways and Development Team.

“Peter Bell is my boss, and he’s given me the license to develop relationships with players,” he said.

“That’s always been one of my strengths, having a conversation and getting to know people.”

Walters, who played 239 games for Fremantle and was the club’s leading goalkicker five times, is preparing for his first season as a spectator after retiring from the AFL last year.

“There’s no itchy feet, my body is banged up and I’m still sore,” Walters revealed.

“I know mentally I retired at the right time, and I feel good about helping out the next generation.”