WEST Coast's AFLW side will have a third coach in three seasons, with Michael Prior taking the reins from Daniel Pratt.
Pratt and his wife Rachel are expecting their second child in January, when the season will kick off, and the club said the possibility of hubs or quarantine made the prospect of coaching difficult.
Pratt will return to the AFL ranks, having also coached the club's WAFL side this year.
Prior is familiar with West Coast's female program, having previously headed up the club's women's high performance academy.
He played 90 AFL games for both Essendon and the Eagles from 1994 to 2002, and has also spent time coaching at Fremantle and WAFL side East Perth.
The Eagles said Pratt would assist Prior in a mentoring role, and have also added Kerry O'Sullivan and Pia Faletti to the AFLW coaching panel.
O'Sullivan most recently led Western Australia's under-17 and under-19 girls teams, while Faletti coached Subiaco in the under-18 girls Rodgers Cup.
Prior joins a number of AFLW coaches who have also played for their club, including Adelaide's Matthew Clarke, former Brisbane Bear Craig Starcevich, Carlton's Daniel Harford, Geelong's Daniel Lowther, North Melbourne's Darren Crocker and St Kilda's Nick Dal Santo.
