The AFL is proud to celebrate the second annual, Women’s Coaching Month, for the entire month of July, presented by BHP.
Women’s Coaching Month not only presents the opportunity to celebrate the contribution of current women in coaching across the country but also promotes the pathway programs and initiatives to get more women coaching at community level, across state leagues and at the AFL and AFLW level.
The BHP and AFL partnership focuses on developing girls and women who want to play, coach, umpire and administer our game, and encourage the men and 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, recognizing that progression for women is what’s best for the community.
BHP’s strong ties to coaching is through the BHP Women’s Coaching Academy, which has seen 18 coaches graduate since 2019, and a further 8 as part of the 2022 program. BHP is also the proud presenting partner of the National She Can Coach program alongside the Women’s Coaching Month.
AFL General Manager Women’s Football Nicole Livingstone said that recruiting more women into coaching roles is a key priority for all levels of the game.
“Women’s Coaching Month celebrates women already in coaching roles and provides an opportunity to further support and promote the pathway programs and initiatives to get more women who are passionate about our game into coaching,” Ms Livingstone said.
“This year marks our second annual Women’s Coaching Month and we’re proud to work alongside presenting partner BHP to further highlight the need for more female coaches from grassroots to the elite level.”
“We know there is work to be done in recruiting more women into coaching roles, but we’re excited that momentum is growing with a 100 per cent increase in women coaching across the NAB League since 2021. We’re absolutely committed to growing these numbers across all levels of the game.”
“Whether it be as a player, an umpire, in administrative roles, or in coaching, we are always seeking new ways to encourage women and girls to become involved in the game they love.”
As part of Women’s Coaching Month, the AFL will be conducting a three-part Community Webinar series to showcase some of our inspiring women coaches across our game as well other industry experts who have created best practice, inclusive club environments to support all coaches of women and girls. For further information about Women’s Coaching Month, and the AFL’s women’s coaching pathways including the She Can Coach program, BHP Women’s Coaching Academy and the AFL Victoria Women’s Coaching Academy, visit coach.afl/women-girls-coaching
Women Coaching in 2022
Women’s Coach Acceleration program
Nine AFL Clubs have been awarded position in the Women’s Coach Acceleration Program where they will be employed for a minimum two-year period between now and 2025. The program involves a formal mentorship with a senior men’s AFL coach and a Level 3 Coaching Accreditation achieved as a minimum. The program is co-funded by the respective Club, together with the AFL, with relevant Soft Cap exemptions in place. Women’s Coach Acceleration Program recipients are:
- Adelaide Crows: Chelsea Randall
- Brisbane Lions: Emma Zielke
- Collingwood: Chloe McMillan
- Essendon: Natalie Wood
- Geelong Cats: Daisy Pearce
- GWS GIANTS: Alicia Eva
- Hawthorn: Bec Goddard
- North Melbourne: to be announced
- Port Adelaide: Erin Phillips
NAB LEAGUE
This year has seen 18 women employed as coaches in the NAB League – a 100 per cent increase in women employed across the NAB League since 2021.
There are also a number of women in Development Coaching roles across the NAB League.
The women coaching (across boys’ and girls’ programs) in the NAB League for 2022 are:
- Kate Dixon – Bendigo Pioneers
- Jacara Egan – Calder Cannons. Egan became the first Indigenous woman to coach in the League, now Development Coach at Essendon AFLW
- Alana Dickie – Calder Cannons
- Gabby Newton (AFLW player) – Northern Knights
- Laura Frazer – Northern Knights
- Ines McKay– Northern Knights
- Shayla Marsh – Gippsland
- Sally Riley – GWV Rebel (Past AFLW Player)
- Claire Cartwright – Murray Bushrangers
- Emma Mackie – Murray Bushrangers (Past AFLW Player)
- Nadia Von Bertouch – Oakleigh Chargers
- Kelly Fallon – Dandenong Stingrays
- Natasha Heffernan– Geelong Falcons
- Kate Cattanach – Eastern Ranges
- Lauren Morecroft– Eastern Ranges
- Tilly Arthur – Sandringham Dragons
- Lisa Roper – Sandringham Dragons
- Hayley Gossow – Western Jets
rebel VFLW Competition
In the rebel VFLW Competition, seven (7) of the twelve (12) Senior Coaches are women. They are:
- Chloe McMillan – Collingwood
- Cherie O’Neil – Hawthorn
- Dale Robinson – Southern Saints
- Kirby Bentley – Western Bulldogs
- Penny Cula-Reid – Williamstown
- Kate Tyndall - Darebin
- Steph Binder - North Melbourne
NATIONAL TALENT – State Team Coaches
- Georgia Walker - Former AFLW player (Allies Assistant/ NSW Head Coach)
- Shannon Miller (Allies Assistant NT)
- Jodie Clifford (Allies Assistant– Tas)
- Sharona Bishop (Development coach – Allies)
- Sarah Perkins - Current AFLW Player (QLD Assistant)
- Jenna Allomes – (WA Assistant)
- Kate Orme (WA Assistant)
- Jacara Egan (Vic Metro – Head coach)
- Lauren Morecroft (Vic Metro- Assistant)
- Alana Dickie (Vic Metro- Assistant)
- Hayley Gossow (Vic Metro Assistant)
- Lisa Roper (Vic Metro Assistant)
- Sally Riley - Former AFLW player (Vic Country Assistant)
- Kelly Fallon (Vic Country Assistant)
- Bek McMahon (SA Assistant)
- Daisy Pearce (NAB AFLW Academy - VIC)
- Steph Binder (Under-23 All Stars Assistant Coach)
NAB AFL & AFLW National Academy
- Daisy Pearce (AFLW Academy) - AFLW player
- Jacara Egan (AFLW Academy)
- Alicia Eva (AFL Academy) - AFLW player
NAB AFLW Futures
- Sarah Perkins - AFLW player
- Georgia Walker – Past AFLW player
- Chelsea Randall - AFLW player
- Kirby Bentley – Past AFLW player
- Jacara Egan
- Bek McMahon
