Brady Grey will depart Hawthorn after accepting a full-time role as a development coach at Fremantle.

Grey joined the Hawks in February after being appointed as the Indigenous Player Development Manager. He also took up an assistant coaching role with Hawthorn’s inaugural AFLW team this year.

Grey now returns to Fremantle, where he played 21 games across five seasons. 

His new role will allow him to move into a full-time coaching role in the men’s program, while also providing the opportunity to be closer to his family and friends in Perth.

Hawthorn Head of Football Rob McCartney thanked Grey for his service to the club.

"Brady has been a wonderful person to have at the club,” McCartney said.

"His guidance and leadership in his role as the Indigenous Player Development Manager has been invaluable, while his work in our AFLW program has also had a big impact.

"We wish him all the best in his next step with Fremantle."

Grey said he thoroughly enjoyed his time with the brown and gold.

“I’ll be forever grateful to the Hawthorn Football Club for the opportunities and support I have been given this year, particularly from Justin Reeves, Rob McCartney, Sam Mitchell and Bec Goddard,” Grey said.

“I have been able to really develop my experience in both the player welfare and coaching spaces in my time here at the Hawks. Off the field, I have been able to be part of some significant work being done in the Indigenous space and that is something I am immensely proud of.

“There have been numerous highlights this season, including our engagement in community at Katherine, our work with Worawa Aboriginal College and the club’s first ever home and away game in Darwin.

“I am proud of what we have achieved together, and how everyone at the club has openly engaged in their cultural journey.

“I am now really excited to head back west, to a club I am very familiar with, and try to take my coaching to another level with the Dockers.”

Hawthorn CEO Justin Reeves said while the club was sad to see Grey depart but, given the opportunity of moving back to Perth as well as the full-time coaching role, it was clear the decision was the right one for him. 

“Over the past few months the club has been working with external experts to ensure we have a greater First Nations presence across both the football department and the administration of the club. 

“This will result in the appointment of a full-time First Nations staff member in the football department as well as a new General Manager of Inclusion and Diversity with a specific focus on First Nations initiatives, inclusive programs, practices and policies and an increase in diversity at all levels.”