Trent Aaron Cooper (born 19 June 1974) is a former Australian rules footballer and coach. Cooper was the senior coach of Fremantle Football Club in the AFL Women's (AFLW) for five seasons before departing the club in November 2022 after not being offered a new contract.

Trent Cooper
Cooper coaching Fremantle in January 2019
Personal information
Full name Trent Aaron Cooper
Date of birth (1974-06-19) 19 June 1974 (age 50)
Place of birth Midland, Western Australia
Playing career
Years Club Games (Goals)
1997–1998 Peel Thunder 14 (7)
1999 Swan Districts 2 (0)
Total 16 (7)
Coaching career3
Years Club Games (W–L–D)
2019–2022 (S7) Fremantle (W) 47 (30–16–1)
3 Coaching statistics correct as of 2022 (S7).
Source: WAFL FootyFacts

Playing career

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Cooper played in the West Australian Football League for Peel Thunder in 1997 and 1998, and then for one season with Swan Districts in 1999. Cooper played a total of 16 league games and 7 goals over three seasons.[1]

Coaching career

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Cooper was announced as Fremantle's coach in June 2018, replacing the Dockers' inaugural AFLW coach, Michelle Cowan.[2]

After Fremantle went through the shortened 2020 AFLW season undefeated, Cooper was awarded the AFL Coaches Association Coach of the Year award.[3]

In his five seasons in charge, Cooper took Fremantle to the finals on four occasions. He was axed by the club in November 2022 after the conclusion of the AFLW's seventh season.[4] In the days following, Cooper described his departure as an "unpopular decision" and reiterated that he disagreed with the call.[5]

Less than a month after leaving Fremantle, Cooper was hired by the West Australian Football Commission in a youth development coaching role.[6]

Personal life

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Outside of football, Cooper is a high school maths teacher, having taught at Wesley College and Chisholm Catholic College.[7]

References

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  1. ^ "WAFL FootyFacts - COOPER, Trent". www.waflfootyfacts.net. Retrieved 27 April 2020.
  2. ^ "AFLW: Trent Cooper named as Michelle Cowan's successor at Fremantle". Fox Sports (Australia). News Corp Australia. 7 June 2018. Retrieved 8 February 2019.
  3. ^ Hope, Shayne (9 April 2020). "Freo coach consolation in AFLW award". ESPN.com. Retrieved 27 April 2020.
  4. ^ "Trent Cooper to depart Freo". Fremantle Football Club. 7 November 2022. Retrieved 14 September 2023.
  5. ^ Keating, Mitch (20 November 2022). ""I disagree with the decision": Axed Fremantle coach Trent Cooper opens up on Dockers departure". Zero Hanger. Retrieved 14 September 2023.
  6. ^ "WAFC Recruits Highly Respected Coach Trent Cooper". West Australian Football Commission. 7 December 2022. Retrieved 14 September 2023.
  7. ^ Black, Sarah (2 August 2018). "AFLW: Cooper's vision clear for Fremantle". fremantlefc.com.au. Retrieved 27 April 2020.
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