From Trinity Aquinas to the Perth Demons: Dan Cripps Takes the Next Step

From celebrating an A Grade Women’s Premiership with Trinity Aquinas to being appointed Head Coach of the Perth Football Club’s WAFLW side, Daniel Cripps is taking the next step in his coaching journey.

Following two successful seasons at Trinity Aquinas Football Club, Cripps has been announced as the new Perth Demons WAFLW Head Coach for the 2027 season, marking an exciting progression from the Perth Football League (PFL) into the WAFLW competition.

It’s a significant milestone for Cripps, whose coaching journey with Trinity Aquinas began just two years ago, at a time when he wasn’t entirely sure coaching was something he wanted to pursue long-term.

Fast forward to 2026, and he’s helped guide Trinity Aquinas to the top of the PFL’s A Grade Women’s competition, coached the League’s Women’s Representative Team, and now secured an opportunity at the next level.

For Cripps, much of that journey comes back to the players who helped him discover his passion for coaching.

“This is probably the reason why I’m so passionate about women’s footy, because of the TA’s girls and the group that I’ve got to work with over the last two years,” Cripps said.

“The TA’s girls are just an amazing group of women. The amount of fun that they have playing footy and the care they have for each other is something I’ve never really seen in any team, men’s or women’s, in all my time in football.”

While the decision to leave Trinity Aquinas wasn’t an easy one, Cripps said the club’s 2026 A Grade Women’s Premiership provided a fitting conclusion to an incredible chapter.

The victory marked a fourth consecutive premiership for the Trinity Aquinas women’s program, completing its remarkable rise through the PFL women’s grades to the top of A Grade.

“Winning it, it all kind of worked out perfectly. It just felt like the right time. The TA’s girls have obviously won four flags in a row. They’ve climbed the mountain and got to the top of A Grade.”

Having also led the PFL’s Women’s Representative Team in 2026, Cripps’ appointment is another example of the coaching pathways available through community football.

And while the move to WAFLW brings new challenges, he isn’t planning to leave behind the approach that has helped him build such a strong connection with his players.

“I’m a big believer that you can drive high standards, work hard and have a heap of fun at the same time,” he said.

“That’s the main thing for me. I want to make sure there’s a really fun culture where everyone actually enjoys coming to training.”

Cripps is optimistic about what lies ahead for the Demons, particularly given the club’s young playing list and development across its first two WAFLW seasons.

“We’re a really young list. They’ve recruited really well over the last couple of years, and what they’ve achieved in their first two seasons is something they should be really proud of. I’m very bullish on what this squad is capable of next season; the sky is the limit.”

Despite moving into a new role, Cripps is also keen to maintain the connection between Trinity Aquinas and Perth Football Club.

With pre-season commencing on November 17, Cripps is already meeting with players and preparing for the challenge ahead.

For the PFL, his appointment is a fantastic achievement to celebrate, recognising not only his contribution to women’s football at Trinity Aquinas and representative level, but also the opportunities that community football can create.

The Perth Football League congratulates Dan on his appointment and wishes him every success as he takes the next step with the Perth Demons in 2027.