ELLA Roberts is only five seasons into a flourishing AFLW career, but West Coast can already see her potential as a future coach after the superstar midfielder traded her footy boots for a clipboard and a seat in the coaches' box during this year's WAFL season. 

Roberts is a self-confessed footy nut who loves getting into the little details of the game, watching a stack of AFLW and AFL football and recently showcasing her footy brain in a special comments role with Fox Footy in Perth.  

The 21-year-old's passion for the game and work ethic is clearly well known at West Coast, so there was no hesitation when she approached the club about getting a taste of coaching with Kyal Horsley and his WAFL team. 

From game reviews, match planning and main training, to then working with the WAFL midfielders on game day, Roberts threw herself into the role for the entire season and left an impression in an example of collaboration between the Eagles' football programs. 

"For her it was an opportunity to get the experience, dip her toes in the water, and see what coaching is like, but she's definitely got coaching in her," Horsley told AFL.com.au. 

"She sees the game really quickly and understands it, but she is also really curious and wants to get better. That's a pretty good recipe to have when you want a successful career. 

"She's got a long playing career ahead, but I wouldn't be surprised if she then stepped straight into coaching at the back end of it, because she was outstanding in what she did."

Roberts worked with West Coast's head of women's football, Michelle Cowan, to explore the opportunity, approaching Horsley in January to see if the WAFL program would be interested in having her involved. 

There was no hesitation from Horsley, who has seen the midfielder quickly establish herself as one of the AFLW's best players in her five seasons, with her elite game sense and stoppage craft among her standout attributes. 

As part of the role, the 53-gamer from Margaret River worked closely with AFLW and WAFL midfield coach Kane Mitchell, sitting in the coaches' box and providing ideas both on the broader game and on specific areas that she was asked to watch. 

"Any chance you get to have someone of Ella's quality in the program, or anyone who really wants to be involved and learn, you're always keen to have them involved," Horsley said. 

"It was about how can we get Ella involved in the program in ways that will help with her footy, and then also ways that will help us.

"If you've seen Ella play, you quickly realise that she sees the game really well, and she brought that aspect to our group with what she was seeing and quickly she could pick the game up. 

"She helped in multiple areas, and talking to her, she got a lot out of it too and it's just a different way to look at the game."

Roberts' approach with her football is that she likes to be "100 per cent in", and that was the case with the WAFL program, committing significant time to the role as the Eagles won a club record 10 home and away games to just miss finals.  

"She'd be there to plan training, review the game, and then our main training session, and she'd be involved on game day as well from when all the coaches rock up to the end of the game," Horsley said. 

"It was a big commitment and a lot of hours while also doing her own pre-season, but she just has an appetite for it and a real desire to be involved. 

"She'd always have questions and she'd always want to understand in more detail and get into the fine details on what broke down, what worked well, and where the growth is. She's an absolute footy head and loves the game."

Having Roberts cross over into the WAFL program was a first for West Coast, which has also utilised co-captain Bella Lewis in the AFL recruiting team under list manager Matt Clarke. 

Horsley said it would have taken courage for Roberts to step into a new environment and throw herself into the role, but her impact with the WAFL group had further strengthened the connection across the Eagles' men's and women's football programs.  

"I think belonging and being one club is really important, and I know all the players who worked with Ella would have a deeper interest in her individually and in AFLW, even though they already would have cared," Horsley said. 

"Hopefully it keeps happening and more players look to jump across and help out, because it does have a big impact and it does really create a sense of belonging. 

"For Ella to put herself out there and be vulnerable in a way, you're going into an environment where you don't really know anyone and you're younger than pretty much everyone who you're coaching. 

"But to crack in and park any fear or anxiety to grow yourself, I think it's a great attribute she has. She's had an outstanding year, and it's pretty easy to understand why."