OAKLEIGH Chargers coach Michael Stinear will steer Melbourne’s women’s team in 2017.
The Demons confirmed Stinear’s appointment on Thursday afternoon, rounding out the coaching signings for the eight AFL Women’s clubs.
Stinear, 32, is aiming to lead Oakleigh to its third straight TAC Cup premiership. He will join the Demons after the TAC Cup season and it’s understood he’ll also take up a development role with the club’s AFL team.
Stinear was a Carlton rookie in 2002, won the league best and fairest award in the AFLQ competition and has worked for state football bodies in Queensland and Victoria.
Coach bios
Adelaide Crows
Bec Goddard: AFP officer has broad experience in football, having coached men, women and youth girls. Previously an assistant coach with NEAFL clubs Ainslie and Queenbeyan and a dual premiership coach of Eastlake’s women’s team in the ACT.
Brisbane Lions
Craig Starcevich: The former Collingwood premiership player is the AFL Queensland female football high performance coach and previously coached the Dogs' women's team. He was the high performance manager of the Lions' men's team during their premiership era in 2001-03.
Carlton
Damien Keeping: Spent time as coach of the Western Bulldogs women's side, and was an assistant coach of the VWFL women's academy and senior assistant coach of the AFL Victoria metro youth girls team.
Collingwood
Wayne Siekman: Coached Vic Metro to an emphatic victory in this year’s AFL youth girls’ national championship in Melbourne. Has held various coaching roles with the Gippsland Stingrays in the TAC Cup since 2006.
Fremantle
Michelle Cowan: Began her coaching career at WAFL side West Perth in 2004-05 before landing the head coach position for Melbourne's women's team in 2013. She was also a development coach for the Demons from the start of this year.
Greater Western Sydney
Tim Schmidt: The ex-Swan has focused on coaching since injury forced him to stop playing. He’s been involved in a host of development programs including the Sydney Swans Academy. He has coached the NSW/ACT under-18s youth girls’ team and the under-16 NSW/ACT Ramsand was a skills coach with NRL club Sydney Roosters.
Melbourne
Michael Stinear: One of the star coaches at TAC Cup level and in line for three straight flags with the Oakleigh Chargers. Was a rookie at Carlton before heading north and winning a league best and fairest award playing for Queensland club Mt Gravatt.
Western Bulldogs
Paul Groves: Has enjoyed success as an elite women's coach with Vic Metro and oversaw the implementation of the Victoria Academy for young women. A school teacher by trade, the 34-year-old has extensive experience in TAC Cup football and more recently as head coach of Monash Blues in the VAFA.
