Women's Coach Month: Celebrating our coaches
The AFL is currently celebrating Women's Coaching Month presented by BHP with the month of July dedicated to shining a light on our inspiring female coaches across all levels of our game, to legitimising the coaching pathway for women and girls, and to recruiting more women in to coaching.
Throughout the country, there are many female coaches who have been nominated by their clubs, players, leagues and supporters for the outstanding contribution they make to our footballing community.
We are still looking for nominations and we're asking clubs around the country to submit a photo and/or video of a female coach who has made a significant contribution to the game, along with a short summary of that contribution.
These stories will then be shared across various AFL State & Territory digital/social media channels throughout the month of July.
Check out some of the Victorian nominations so far!
Lilly Bromley - Woodend Hawks - Junior Girls Coach
Lilly is a talented footballer and coach and is currently playing for the Woodend Hawks in the Youth Girls team and the Riddell District Girls Interleague team whilst coaching the Woodend Junior Girls side.
Lilly is sharing her footballing experience and talent with others through coaching having come from an assistant role last year to the head coach role this year showing great development within her short coaching career.
In addition to her coaching role, Lilly is studying psychology at Victoria University & working two part time jobs and she is a great role model to the young girls at the club.
Lilly plans on coaching the youth girls team next year and would like to pursue a role one day in the AFLW.
Lilly Bromley playing for the Riddell District Football League Girls Interleague team.
Mel Kuys - Port Melbourne Colts Junior Football Club - Girls Coaching and Development Director and U18 Div 1 Girls Coach
"Mel has played footy at AFLW (Saints and Pies) and is currently captain of the Port Melb FC VFLW and leads our Girls Development program at the club. She has just set up an AFL Football Academy with the new Port Melb Secondary College and runs holiday programs for all players." - Annette Maloney (President - Port Melbourne Colts JFC)
Kirsty Lebusque - Pakenham Lions Junior Football Club - Head Coach for U/9s U/10s
Kirsty has coached juniors for a number of years and started out as an under 8s coach whilst supporting other junior sides within the club as trainer and mentor .
She now coaches the u10s side but still supports our the under 8s and 9s and other junior sides. The children from all three grades have embraced Kirsty and she has helped their football development whilst making sure that they are having fun with their football. In 2019 she was recognised for her contribution for football when she won Coach of the Year for the whole AFL South East Juniors region.
Kirsty is dedicated, knowledgeable, humble and passionate and the Pakenham Junior Football Club is proud to have her not only as a coach but also as a role model within the club and community.
Naomi Irvin - Ballarat Swans - U14s Coach
Naomi is the first ever female junior coach of one of Australia's oldest club, the Ballarat Swans.
Naomi has delivered unwavering commitment to the development of our 11-14 year old girls. Naomi has completed numerous AFL courses to provide the Ballarat Swans girls with an environment that mixes enjoyment with skill development.
Ballarat Swans U14s Girls Coach, Naomi Irvin.
Erin Burns - Redan Junior Football Club - U/16 youth girls coach and Senior Women's player
Erin is Redan Junior Football Club's first female coach.
She has a great passion for not only football but the development of the girls/womens game. Erin has a sound knowledge of football and a great rapport with her team.
Georgia Anderson - Mazenod OCFC - Women's Reserves Coach
Georgia is the first female coach Mazenod OCFC.
She is a talented footballer and was part of the club's inaugural women's team that won the VAFA premiership in 2017.
Georgia undertook coaching of the Women's Reserves in 2019 and has built a strong relationship with the whole playing group. She is known for her fun training sessions and her football knowledge.
ABOUT WCM:
Women's Coaching Month is an initiative developed by the AFL in partnership with BHP and focuses on developing girls and women who want to play, coach, umpire and administer our game, and encourages 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.
Participation in women’s and girl’s football has grown by 176% since the birth of AFLW, but there’s still work to be done in the coaching community.
BE PART OF THE CHANGE.
Learn more about coaching and Women’s Coaching Month at: 2022 Women’s Coaching Month | Coach.afl
