WEST COAST has hired Collingwood strength and conditioning coach Paul Turk as it looks to rebuild its off-field team after two years of unprecedented injury problems.
Turk will join the Eagles under new high performance manager Mathew Innes, who was recruited from the Western Bulldogs. Turk was the Magpies’ athletic performance coach for the past two seasons, including this year’s premiership campaign.
Turk has 17 years of AFL experience, having held senior positions with Essendon and North Melbourne, as well as working as a physical preparation specialist at the Western Australian Institute of Sport.
Correcting the injury issues that contributed to West Coast’s disastrous back-to-back seasons will be critical to the team’s success in establishing its young roster and moving forward with a draft-led rebuild.
“There is a group of young players coming through at the Eagles who I’m looking forward to helping achieve their performance peaks, while also building resilience across the entire playing group,” Turk told the media.
“I loved my time in Perth previously and can’t wait to head back west for a new challenge.”
Turk, who worked in both the AFL and AFLW programs for the Magpies, thanked the club and said it was important for him to return to WA to be closer to family.
“This was not an easy decision to make but it’s important to me to return home and raise my young son,” Turk went on to say.
“I would like to thank Collingwood for giving me this opportunity back in 2022 and wish the club all the best for the future.”
Turk will join the Eagles after the Magpies’ AFLW season concludes, with West Coast’s first-to-fourth-year players returning for pre-season training on November 6.
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