COLLINGWOOD has appointed Stephen Symonds as senior coach of the AFLW team to replace Wayne Siekman.
Symonds joins the Magpies after three years with SANFLW's Norwood Football Club as senior coach and academy head coach.
He was recruited by Norwood in 2016 to establish its inaugural women's program, leading the team to two Grand Finals and a premiership in 2017.
Symonds received South Australia's Team Coach of the Year award in 2017.
He has also been a senior assistant coach in SANFL men's programs and has been involved with the AFL in game development.
Collingwood General Manager of Women's Sport Jane Woodlands-Thompson said Symonds' experience in establishing female football programs was critical to the appointment.
"Stephen has an impeccable record in developing pre-elite programs and has demonstrated his ability to create and fast-track programs to success," she said.
Symonds will join the club in two weeks and familiarise himself with the AFLW operation, and many of the Collingwood AFLW players, by assisting with the Magpies' VFLW campaign.
Siekman parted ways with the Magpies two months ago after failing to lead the team into the finals for the third straight season.
