ADELAIDE is expected to appoint its new AFLW coach by mid-June.

The club last month announced premiership coach Bec Goddard would not be returning for a third season.

Goddard has moved back to Canberra to continue her career with the Australian Federal Police and has taken up an assistant coaching role with NEAFL side Canberra Demons. 

Club great Andrew McLeod is believed to be emerging as a genuine candidate. The 41-year-old, a dual Norm Smith medallist, was an assistant coach with the AFLW side in 2018, working primarily with the midfield. 

The panel to select the coach – Phil Harper (the club’s football administration manager), Linda Fellows (board member), Wally Gallio (the AFLNT’s high-performance manager) and Jane Woodlands-Thompson (SA Football commissioner and Adelaide Thunderbirds premiership netball coach) – is expected to interview three to four applicants over the next few weeks. 

Adelaide's other assistant coaches this year were Andrew Hodges (working in the Northern Territory with the club’s Darwin-based players), Mark Moody and dual Crows premiership player Peter Caven.

The club has said the job will also include work with the club's Next Generation Academy and other community programs.

Collingwood coach Wayne Siekman's contract expires this month and he has not yet been re-signed, but he has been at the club in the last few weeks. 

The Magpies will need to hire several assistant coaches in the off-season, following the departure of Daniel Harford and Shannon McFerran to Carlton. 

Harford was appointed coach of the Blues’ AFLW side while McFerran will lead their VFLW team. 

The Blues are compiling a shortlist in their search for a general manager of women's football. 

Carlton's former coach Damien Keeping was earlier this week conformed as coaching of Melbourne's VFLW side, Casey Demons.

Western Bulldogs premiership coach Paul Groves was recently re-appointed for two seasons, but there has been no word yet on the futures of Craig Starcevich (Brisbane), Alan McConnell (Greater Western Sydney) and Mick Stinear (Melbourne).

Fremantle is still on the hunt for a coach following Michelle Cowan’s decision not to continue with the club. 

Uncertainty about the position of some coaches is intriguing, given the fortnight-long signing and trade period for the inaugural eight AFLW clubs starts on May 23. It might mean some players will be signing with clubs without knowing who will be coaching them.