Sport
16 January, 2025
'Coaching is in my family': Meka joins Warriors as senior co-coach
Perry Meka has joined Stawell as co-coach for 2025 WFNL season.
The Stawell Warriors have added experience to its coaching panel for the 2025 WFNL season.
Perry Meka, has joined the club as senior co-coach after he spent the last two seasons working under first-cousin Adem Yze at Richmond and Melbourne in the AFL in an opposition analysis role.
"It's just a really good club. A lot of them [players] are local and they're all just want to get better," Meka said.
Meka will link back up with James Sullivan at Central Park, the 59 year-old was Sullivan's Auskick coach at Tatura.
The experienced mentor will control the Warriors bench, will Sullivan will lead the side on the ground.
"That's how long ago we go back, it's amazing how we've met up again," Meka said.
"It's just about combining a bit of my experience and his knowledge. We think we can make the club better."
After he spent the last seven seasons in the VFL and AFL systems, Meka was itching to get back to the local side of the game.
I've been involved in local footy for a fair while, and then I went into the VFL/AFL system," he said.
"To be honest, I couldn't wait to get back to the local side of it.
"I hadn't had that game day involvement for the past few years... It was a good role but a lonely role, and you haven't got that game day buzz which I enjoy."
At a local level Meka has led the Shepparton Swans in the Goulborn Valley Football League where he is a life member (as well as the Kyabram District Football Netball League).
Meka then moved to Queensland where he coached QAFL side Labrador.
In his first year in Queensland, Meka worked under with Steven Daniels.
Whilst at the helm, Meka worked with former AFL number one draft pick Josh Fraser.
Fraser and Meka would work together at Carlton's VFL program and the Northern Bullants.
"I talk to him daily, he's been a huge influence," Meka said.
He also credits, Yze, Daniels and an early mentor in Tom Connors.
Meka's main priority with the red and black will be the development of the club's younger players.
"During the week my focus is on the under-21s, to really get them going," he said.
"I think that's where country clubs do it really well [is by having] their junior go well and working up into the senior system.
"We want to try and develop a sustainable footy factory at the club [so] that they're going to be successful."