SWAS 2023: Augusta-Margaret River league coach Matt Jamieson shares coach of the year honour with Keith Old

Revered Augusta-Margaret River dual-premiership coach Matt Jamieson has added another memorable honour to his growing collection. Jamieson received the 2022 Wally Foreman Coach of the Year award alongside Collie hockey icon Keith Old last Friday night in Bunbury. The Hawks coach attended the ceremony with Hawks club president Jo McLarty. Judges took into account Jamieson’s commitment towards player welfare, advocacy for mental health, passion for positive club culture and on-field results. “Obviously I do this job because I like to develop and grow young humans into becoming not only the best footballers they can be but also in the community,” Jamieson said. “To get recognised for my efforts in doing so? It is great. “However it is not all about success. It has been six years of hard work — and hopefully with a few more years of good, hard work down there (at Gloucester Park), we can have more success.” Alex Saffy — Bunbury’s “bullet” in the pool — was crowned 2022 SWAS Sports Star of the Year. Saffy, who has moved to Canberra in a bid to further his international swimming career in both para and able-bodied events, was represented by his parents Debra and Stephen, who were thrilled for their son. “He is still a WA athlete, even though he has lived over east for a year,” Mrs Saffy said. “The loyalty to WA is because of organisations like SWAS, as he feels so strongly a part of both the South West and WA communities.” It was a Margaret River quinella in the female Team Athlete of the Year award, with Ashlee Jarvis (hockey) and Ella Roberts — drafted by ALFW outfit West Coast last year — joint recipients. Award winners SWAS Sports Star of the Year: Alex Saffy (swimming — para). Community Achiever: Lauren Rowe (dressage). Emerging Star: Thomas Cross (athletics). Female team athlete: Ashlee Jarvis (hockey) and Ella Roberts (football). Male team athlete: Brady Hough (football). Individual female athlete: Lauren Rowe (dressage). Individual male athlete: Alex Saffy (swimming — para), Wally Foreman Coach of the Year: Matt Jamieson (football) and Keith Old (hockey).