Retired Fremantle forward Sam Switkowski is set to join North Melbourne as a development coach, reuniting with new Kangaroos senior coach Jaymie Graham just weeks after playing in the 2026 Grand Final, AFL.com.au reported.
AFL.com.au‘s Josh Gabelich reported on Tuesday that the 29-year-old will join Graham at Arden Street in a new role, working alongside recent addition Kane Lambert in North’s development team. Graham coached Switkowski when he looked after Fremantle’s forward line.
Zero Hanger reported that Switkowski is the first new assistant coach confirmed under Graham, while The West Australian also reported he is set to take on the coaching role barely a fortnight after his final AFL game.
AFL.com.au said the tight connection between Graham and Switkowski isn’t expected to change his mind about playing again across the pre-season, but the move is viewed as a boost for North Melbourne’s coaching panel. Zero Hanger reported he may still play some VFL football for the Roos.
Why he walked away at 29
Switkowski decided in August that his nine-year AFL playing career was over, rather than playing on for a new team. AFL.com.au said Victorian clubs approached him across 2026 about playing for them when it emerged he was considering a return home for family reasons. He played 26 games for Fremantle this year, including all four finals.
Read more: AFL: Jaymie Graham Named North Melbourne Senior Coach
The Box Hill Hawks product finished with 131 games for the Dockers after being picked up as a mature-age recruit, Zero Hanger reported. AFL.com.au said Essendon was understood to be among the other clubs that chased him for a football department role.
In his final interview with Fremantle, released on Monday, Switkowski reflected on his career. “I never thought I would even make it into the AFL and my goal was just to play one game and 131 is pretty awesome, thinking back now,” he said, as quoted by Zero Hanger.
North’s coaching panel takes shape
AFL.com.au said North isn’t expected to make many other changes to the coaching panel at this stage. Tom Lynch, who was head of development before Lambert arrived, is set for a line role in 2027 along with Zane Littlejohn, while Xavier Clarke is in line to be promoted to a senior assistant role after being shortlisted for the senior coaching job. Jed Adcock had already decided to leave before Alastair Clarkson’s exit as coach at the start of September.
Neither North Melbourne nor Fremantle had published a separate written announcement on the appointment on their club websites at the time of writing.
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