Pearce to coach East Coast Swans

Nathan Pearce, in action during the 2025 grand final win over Perth, will coach the East Coast Swans Senior team next season.

After a tumultuous few weeks, East Coast Swans have appointed a new coach.

St Helens native Nathan Pearce will take the reins from Nathan Lowe, who parted ways with the club despite having a year left on his contract, citing player dissatisfaction over his time spent on the coast as the reason for leaving.

Pearce, 31, said he was looking forward to the opportunity despite the circumstances.

“It has certainly been a bit messy and not the way I would have liked it,” he said.

“I have been close with Nathan, so it has been hard. I played in the 2019 premiership at Hillwood with him as coach and he got me back to the Swans in 2025 as well.

“I wasn’t here for much of 2026 as I took some time off and only played five or six games, so I didn’t see enough to form an opinion, but the playing group were upset with a few things.”

President Robert Breen said a coaching panel met with prospective coaches from within the playing group and a recommendation was made to the committee.

Pearce said the club needed to move on now that a decision had been made and he looked forward to taking up his first coaching appointment.

“I am expecting a lot of pressure but at the end of the day it is something I have always wanted to do to give back to the club where I played as a junior,” he said.

“It is important for us to keep the group together because we have a good group of players with some good juniors coming through.”

Pearce played at St Helens in his early years. He’s played at North Launceston and the Sharks and also had a one year stint on the Gold Coast playing for Labrador in the QAFL followed by a fly-in and fly-out season at the Swans where the midfielder and forward played in the premiership victory over Perth in 2025.

Pearce will line up for the Swans on the field in 2027 with Jordan Cousens to join him as an assistant playing coach while Ned Hyland will take on the role of bench coach.

“We are definitely keen to play finals again that is for sure,” he said.

The Swans held their end of season dinner on Friday night with Marcus Haley and Jordan Cousens sharing the best and fairest with Isaac Newett most consistent and Haley winning MVP.

Adam McDermott won the reserves best and fairest. The Presidents Trophy was awarded to George Austin,
Claire Hayes was named best club person and Nick Fysh was bestowed life membership.