Eagles swoop on business leaders

THE West Coast Eagles is offering business people the opportunity to gain a private insight to the club's success through a unique leadership program for senior executives.

Eagles business development manager Stuart Kemp said executives would pay $12,000 for a sixth-month course where they will hear West Coast secrets that could translate to the boardroom.

The program is being held in conjunction with Sport Knowledge Australia (SKA), a college part-owned by the University of Sydney and the University of Technology Sydney, that provides sport education, sport management, coaching and training courses.

"We see this as a really good opportunity for businesspeople to use the leadership program as high-integrity learning opportunities from West Coast Eagles personnel, some well-known academics and football personalities," Mr Kemp told WA Business News.

He said while the course was another vehicle for the club to boost its $44 million operating revenue, decision-makers from companies of all sizes would benefit from the program's content.

"I think we have the business credentials. If you look at some of our business partners and business clients at this stage, we have a very good relationship with all of them and those types of people, and being the successful club that we have been over the past 22 years, I feel we will have the opportunity to be able attract these types of people again," Mr Kemp said.

Eagles communications coordinator Anna Carew-Reid said real-life scenarios and strategies used by the club would be analysed by keynote speakers including West Coast chief executive Trevor Nisbett, former SAS commanding officer and Eagles director James McMahon, and sport management professor at the University of Technology, Sydney, Tracy Taylor.

"The program will take you inside the West Coast Eagles by using authentic case studies requiring analysis in relation to the club, their leaders and its processes," she said.

"These case studies will connect the West Coast Eagles' leadership strategies and their implementation in the context of the corporate environment."

The Eagles hope to capture the success of a similar program offered by the National Rugby League's Sydney Roosters.