CARLTON'S review has thrust the spotlight on the nature of senior coach contracts within the NAB AFLW competition.
Daniel Harford was axed after a club review found the need for a full-time coach, a contract to which he could not commit.
The difficulty lies around the fact that nominally, the AFLW is still a part-time competition.
Coaches fall into four rough groups – those who are part-time, those who have full-time contracts for a particular period of time (e.g eight months), those who are full-time across men's and women's, and finally, those who are full-time in women's footy (AFLW and academies or list management).
Where is your coach at?
AFLW coaching setups
Part-time |
Full-time contracts for a specified period of time (e.g. six or eight months) |
Full-time at the club across different areas, working year-round |
Full-time AFLW/women’s academies only |
Clubs who did not confirm their coach’s status |
Nick Dal Santo (St Kilda) |
Craig Starcevich (Brisbane) |
Matthew Clarke (Adelaide) |
Dan Lowther (Geelong) |
Michael Prior (West Coast) |
Nathan Burke (Western Bulldogs) |
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Natalie Wood (Essendon) |
Cam Joyce (Gold Coast) |
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Bec Goddard (Hawthorn) |
Cam Bernasconi (GWS) |
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Mick Stinear (Melbourne) |
Scott Gowans (Sydney) |
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Darren Crocker (North Melbourne) |
Steve Symonds (Collingwood) |
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Lauren Arnell (Port Adelaide) |
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Ryan Ferguson (Richmond) |
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St Kilda coach Nick Dal Santo has a part-time, 12-month contract, meaning he is still involved in the program outside of the season.
Matthew Clarke is Adelaide's men's team long-term ruck coach, holding the role since 2008, having retired from playing at AFL level the year prior.
Both Bec Goddard and Natalie Wood are development coaches with their clubs' men's side, taking part in the AFL's women's coach acceleration program.
With Erin Phillips holding Port Adelaide's position within the program, Lauren Arnell works with the men's side throughout the week, holding a gameday forwards coaching role with the SANFL team.
Ryan Ferguson was previously a development backline coach with Richmond's V/AFL programs, and continues to work in men's development outside of his AFLW duties.
Darren Crocker has an unusual combined role: the former North Melbourne forward spending a small portion of his week in a club culture role with past players, working alongside Anthony Stevens in helping former Roos stay connected with the club.
FROM 2017 TO NOW Where are your club’s inaugural players?
Cam Bernasconi and senior assistant coach Lloyd Perris work full-time across AFLW and the Giants' female academies, while premiership coach Mick Stinear divides his time between the AFLW and the club's Next Generation Academy.
Scott Gowans has a multi-faceted role inclusive of list management and coaching development of women’s footy in New South Wales.
Craig Starcevich remains in touch with the women’s program when he returns to Switzerland (where his wife is based), while Steve Symonds is full-time and is at the club for the vast majority of the year, despite his family remaining in South Australia.
Fremantle on Friday appointed former player Lisa Webb as its new senior coach to replace Trent Cooper.
Carlton is currently without a coach following Harford's departure.
