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AFL shines spotlight on women in coaching

The AFL has launched the third annual ‘Women’s Coaching Month’, supported by BHP, to take place throughout July.

Women’s Coaching Month presents an opportunity to celebrate the contribution of current women and girls in coaching roles across the country and promote the pathway programs and initiatives to get more women coaching from grassroots through to the elite level.

The surge in popularity in women and girls football since the inception of the AFLW competition in 2017 has seen numbers of women coaching rise sharply too. In 2023 there are more than 2,000 women and girls registered as community football coaches nationally.

There is strong representation across state league and talent pathway programs, with a highlight being the rise in women coaches in the Coates Talent League, up from zero in 2022 to nine this year across the boys and girls programs. Even with this growth, recruiting more women into coaching roles at all levels is a priority for the game.

The BHP and AFL partnership focuses on developing girls and women who want to play, coach, umpire and administer our game, and encourages men and the broader community to be advocates and allies in this space. The partnership is a holistic one that focuses on promoting leadership, inclusion, equality and wellbeing, recognising that progression for women is what’s best for the community.

BHP has strong ties to coaching through the BHP Women’s Coaching Academy, which has seen 28 coaches graduate since 2018 and a further eight are currently involved as part of the 2023 program. BHP is also the proud presenting partner of the National She Can Coach program alongside the Women’s Coaching Month campaign.

Another key program to promote women's coaching is the Women's Coach Acceleration Program, with nine full-time coaching positions within AFLW programs co-funded by the AFL and clubs.

The BHP Community Coach of the Year Award recognises the outstanding performance and contribution community coaches make to progressing women’s football and shaping their local community. Nominations can be made here.

AFL General Manager Women’s Football, Nicole Livingstone, said that growing and supporting women in coaching is an imperative to ensure the future success of women and girls football.

“We have seen significant momentum generated in the women and girls coaching space in recent years with numbers growing and greater emphasis placed on attraction and retention, not just for women coaching women and girls but women coaching men and boys as well.

“There is a lot of work to be done to continue to build women and girls coaching in Australian football but the significant progress made and sharp focus we have in this space has given us a really strong foundation.

“The support provided by BHP has been instrumental in developing programs designed to support women and girls in coaching and we are seeing the benefits of the programs, including the BHP Women’s Coaching Academy, Women’s Coach Acceleration Program and National She Can Coach program.

“I look forward to seeing the women who are involved in coaching at all levels of the game share the spotlight over the course of July as we tell great stories of those who make such an important contribution through coaching, grow awareness of programs and hope to attract more women to coaching.”

 

Nominate a coach for the 2023 BHP Community Coach of the Year

The BHP Community Coach of the Year Award recognises the outstanding performance and contribution community coaches make to progressing women’s football and shaping their local community. Nominate here: https://www.womens.afl/bhp-community-coach-award 

 

Nominate a coach who deserves to have their story shared

People involved in the game across the country are encouraged to highlight a female coach who has made a significant contribution to the game. Submissions can be made by submitting a story that will be showcased on AFL State and Territory digital channels. Go here: https://aflcommunity.wufoo.com/forms/afl-womens-coaching-month-july-2023/ 

 

Women’s coaching webinar – July 18

Hear from community and state league coaches on their journey during a Women’s Coaching Month community webinar on Tuesday, July 18. Register for the webinar here: https://www.play.afl/coach/womens-coaching-month 

 

WOMEN IN COACHING IN 2023 – ELITE, VFLW AND TALENT PATHWAYS

 

Women’s Coach Acceleration program

Emma Kearney (North Melbourne)

Chelsea Randall (Adelaide Crows)

Emma Zielke (Brisbane Lions)

Chloe McMillan (Collingwood)

Natalie Wood (Essendon)

Daisy Pearce (Geelong Cats)

Alicia Eva (GWS GIANTS)

Bec Goddard (Hawthorn)

Erin Philips (Port Adelaide)

More information here

 

rebel VFLW

Box Hill Hawks - Cherie O'Neill

Collingwood - Chloe McMillan

Darebin Falcons - Kate Tyndall

Geelong Cats - Elise Coventry

North Melbourne - Steph Binder

Southern Saints - Michelle Densley

 

Coates Talent League

Bendigo Pioneers - Whitney Kennedy

Eastern Ranges (Boys) - Lauren Morecroft

Geelong Falcons - Melissa Hickey

GWV Rebels - Sally Riley

Murray Bushrangers - Emma Mackie

Northern Knights - Allana Dickie

Sandringham Dragons - Martha Cantwell

Tasmania Devils - Jodie Clifford

Western Jets - Hayley Gossow 

 

National talent programs - U18 Girls National Championships

Allies: Jodie Clifford

Victoria Country: Mel Hickey

Victoria Metro: Allana Dickie

 

National talent programs - U16 Girls National Championships

Tasmania: Jodie Clifford

Sydney Swans Academy: Bron Gulden

South Australia: Bek McMahon

Victoria Country: Emma Mackie

Victoria Metro: Hayley Gossow

Western Australia: Jenna Allomes

 

BHP Women’s Coaching Academy

Kirby Bentley – Essendon AFLW Assistant Coach

Lexia Edwards – SANFLW Head Coach, Glenelg Football Club

Tanya Hetherington – AFL National Talent Development Coach

Leah Kasler – Adelaide Crows AFLW Development Coach

Liz Quinn – Program Director and Head Coach of ADF Women’s Football; Culture and Leadership Coach at Richmond AFLW.

Shae Sloane – Melbourne AFLW Development Coach

Steph Walding – WAFLW Head Coach, East Fremantle Football Club.

Lou Wotton – Hawthorn AFLW Assistant Coach

 

National She Can Coach Program presented by BHP

Aimee McDougall - VIC (Diamond Creek Women’s)

Alana Hanson - NSW/ACT (Northern Beaches Blues)

Alix Kearney - VIC (Oakleigh Chargers)

Cath Quinn - SA (Westminster Old Scholars)

Cristy Marsh - VIC (Balnarring)

Emerson Hitch - VIC (Darley)

Emily Otto - QLD (Bond University/Burleigh Bombers)

Erin Burns - VIC (GWV Rebels)

Erin Chivers - TAS (University (SFL))

Fiona Van de Made - NSW/ACT (Ainslie) 

Janelle Marangon - WA (Perth)

Jessie Woolford - NT (NTFL Umpires)

Kate Anderson (Darby) - VIC (Geelong Falcons)

Katlyn Scott - NSW/ACT (Bermagui)

Megan Boers-Veen - SA (Willaston)

Michaela Nayler - QLD (Sherwood Magpies)

Michelle O'Brien - SA (Happy Valley)

Mika Berman - WA (East Fremantle)

Natalie Pribil - VIC (Beaumaris)

Rebecca Dee - VIC (Melbourne University Women's)

Sabrina Kliousis - NSW/ACT (Newcastle City)

Sarah Christensen - WA (Under 15s State School Girl's coaching)

Siobhan O’Dwyer - VIC (Preston Bullants)

Sophia Ikosidekas - VIC (Williamstown)

Tammie Lauritsen - QLD (Morningside)

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2023 AFL Barwon Junior Talent Academy Under 14 Boy's Squads Announced

AFL Barwon wishes to congratulate the below players who have been selected in the Under 14 Boy's 2023 AFL Barwon Junior Talent Academy squads.

The AFL Barwon Junior Talent Academies in 2023 consist of an Under 15 boys and a combined Under 14/15 girl's squads which have already been released.

The Under 14 boy's squad will commence training on the 2nd of August at Winter Reserve.

Players will undertake an intensive program that will focus skill and education development. The program will be coordinated by the AFL Barwon appointed coaches in a collaboration with Rookie Me and their expert coaching team.

The list of players selected can be found below.

Player Name Club
Josh Villani Anglesea
Axel Allen Apollo Bay
Jesse Bode Barwon Heads
Will Liston Barwon Heads
Aubrey Melville Colac
Hugh Gibson Colac
Jed Hay Colac
Ted Buchanan Colac
Liam Tainton Drysdale
Banjo Savage Geelong Amateur
Cadel Cross Geelong Amateur
Fidel Seignior Geelong Amateur
Rhylee Drummond Geelong West Giants
Jarvis Burley Lara
Xavier McLean Leopold
Oska Rose Newtown & Chilwell
Tom Stuchbery Newtown & Chilwell
John Tattersall Ocean Grove
Seb Carnavale Ocean Grove
Tai Sendeckyj Ocean Grove
Toby Duckett Ocean Grove
Madden Sadowy South Barwon
Wil Tsitas South Barwon
Alistair Morell St Albans
Hamish Andrews St Albans
Ryder Young St Albans
Archie Farrow St Joseph's
Henry Wright St Joseph's
Nate Mensch St Joseph's
Archie Blood St Mary's
Charlie Peake St Mary's
Liam Walker St Mary's
Noah Vagg St Mary's
Charlie Montebello Torquay
Geordi O'Shannessy Torquay
Jordan Penrice Torquay
Kyan Walters Torquay
Sam Richardson Torquay
Will Pryor Torquay
Angus Borgia Western Eagles

Juniors

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Image: David Smith (Geelong Advertiser)

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Tackle Your Feelings Matches

This Saturday, the second edition of the Tackle Your Feelings awareness matches will take place at Kardinia Park West, between Geelong Football Netball League clubs St Mary's and Geelong West Giants.

The clubs will don blue and red socks, symbolizing the colours of the Tackle Your Feelings program, an initiative dedicated to raising awareness about mental health.

The Tackle Your Feelings program's primary objective is to strengthen the ability of netball and football coaches, through the use of a local psychologist, to see the signs of poor mental health within their players.

 

About the program

Tackle Your Feelings is a free mental health training program for community football/netball coaches, as well as committee members and other club support staff.

The program is delivered by a local psychologist and aims to help participants gain the tools to Understand, Recognise and Respond to signs of mental ill-health in their players.

In 2022, the program was delivered to more than 2500 community coaches from 200 clubs across Australia.

The program was inspired by mental health education developed for AFL professional coaches and players, consisting of a 90-minute face-to-face presentation from a local psychologist and additional online learning. 

Tackle Your Feelings ambassadors Leon Cameron, Nathan Buckley, Bec Goddard, Ellie Blackburn, Steven May and Dylan Buckley also feature throughout the video content within the program. 

The program was formed by the AFL Coaches Association, AFL Players’ Association and Zurich Insurance in 2018, after the tragic death of Adelaide coach Phil Walsh three years earlier.

The program was evaluated by Monash University in 2021. The attached document provides further background.

How your club can get involved

TYF will facilitate Tackle Your Feelings sessions at local football clubs throughout your region and we invite your clubs to participate.  

The program is free and participants who complete the workshop and online modules will be eligible for some great prizes through the Tackle Your Feelings Rewards Program.

 

To get involved in the program, please contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Further details about the program can be found here.

Image: David Smith (Geelong Advertiser)

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Match Review Panel Findings - July 19

AFL Barwon advises the Match Review of the weekends games has been completed with the following findings.

Match Grade Name Club Charge Penalty
Anglesea v Geelong Amateur Seniors Daniel Grose Geelong Amateur Striking 1 match
Lara v South Barwon Seniors Josh Smith Lara No charge  
Lara v South Barwon Seniors Billy Goodwin Lara No charge  
St Joseph's v St Mary's Seniors Ben Kamaric St Joseph's No charge  
Drysdale v Barwon Heads Seniors Tom Ruggles Drysdale No charge  
Drysdale v Barwon Heads Seniors Flinn Chisholm Drysdale No charge  
Grovedale v Leopold Seniors Rory Desnoy Leopold No charge  
Anakie v East Geelong Seniors Luke Daffy Anakie No charge  
Anakie v East Geelong Seniors Luke Daffy Anakie No charge  
Otway Districts v Alvie Seniors Lachie Rosevear Alvie No charge  

MRP

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Community Clubs to 'Band Together' for Road Safety Round

Victoria’s football and netball communities will rally behind road safety this week, donning blue armbands to honour people killed on Victorian roads and show a commitment to reducing road trauma.

The fourth annual TAC & AFL Victoria Road Safety Round will run statewide July 21 -23, seeing thousands of people from country and suburban football and netball leagues ‘Band Together’, wearing blue armbands to honour all lives impacted by road trauma and to promote road safety.

Players, coaches, volunteers and supporters from more than 1000 AFL Victoria-affiliated clubs will wear the bespoke armband, which features a QR code linking people to an online hub of stories from people impacted by road trauma.

This year, 165 people have been tragically killed on Victorian roads – a 28% increase on the 129 lives lost at this time in 2022.

Road deaths in regional areas are a continued concern, with 94 fatalities this year compared to 73 at the same time in 2022. The number of people aged 21-to-39 who have died on the roads has risen by more than 20.

The TAC and AFL Victoria’s Road Safety Round provides the perfect platform to speak directly to the thousands of Victorians travelling hundreds of kilometres on the state’s roads for games and training every year.

Road Safety Round is just one aspect of the TAC’s long-standing partnership with AFL Victoria, with the TAC Club Rewards Program offering clubs up to $10,000 for their efforts in promoting safe driving behaviours throughout the season.

More information:

Quotes attributable to Minister for Roads and Road Safety Melissa Horne:

“Any life lost on Victorian roads is one too many. The impact of these tragedies on local communities across our state is devastating.”

“Road Safety Round is an opportunity for clubs to honour those impacted by road trauma and have important conversations with their members about the role they play in keeping our roads safe.”

Quote attributable to Transport Accident Commission CEO Tracey Slatter:

"Victorian football and netball clubs are often at the centre of their communities and we are proud of the way Road Safety Round is embraced by the clubs, and how it empowers players and members to have life-saving road safety conversations with their peers.”

Quote attributable to Head of AFL Victoria, Ben Kavenagh:

"Road safety is so important and relevant to every Victorian and with community football players, coaches, volunteers, and supporters spending considerable time driving – Road Safety Round presents the ideal platform to convey a powerful message.”

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