News External review for Richmond's AFLW program.

[toenail63]

This season two club bnf’s going to Irish recruits and the leading goal kicker award going to an Irish recruit.
The fact we hadn’t brought in an Irish recruit till this season and it did look like a knee jerk reaction to bring in Beruldsen.
It was another flag that we are behind game trends by about 5 seasons.

We have haven’t had a fwd kick more than 14 goals in a season.
That’s a significant issue.

I think it’s pretty clear who has done better outve the Richmond/Brennan relationship

That's another thing we need to appoint a new captain, will be a new look all over for our women's team in 2026.

 

[Juke]

 

[TJTIGER]

Da Sugeon General warns that smokin is a helf hazzards...

 

[toenail63]

I'm pretty sure the article says Kate is out as well as Ferg?

Yep

"I am grateful for the opportunity Richmond Football Club gave me to lead the establishment of its AFLW program. I will cherish my time at the Club and the relationships I built with the staff and players. I wish the Club and the AFLW program every success in the future,” Sheahan said.

 

[Cdog71]

That's another thing we need to appoint a new captain, will be a new look all over for our women's team in 2026.

Is Ellie unbackable favourite yet?

 

[Tas]

Mike Stinear left Melbourne and is weighing up what he does. Not sure on Scott Gowan if he wants to coach, but the best one would be Norths assistant coach Rhys Harwood, another good one is Swans assistant coach Tanya Hetherington however feel she may take role vacated by Scott Gowan.

I am not sure if Harwood will make a good coach or not, but he was a massive part of the transformation of our team in 2022-23, we wouldn't be where we are without him.

 

[The Vaucluse]

The right call. The club is not mucking around. We’ve given the leadership group a significant opportunity to get things right. Ultimately this is a culture reset, either things had gone stale or the atmosphere was toxic. Again, somebody dropped the ball on the women’s program at Richmond, and it’s about time we took it more seriously. I know we made finals last year, but we went out pretty quick smart.

 

[toenail63]

Is Ellie unbackable favourite yet?

Don't think this one will happen for a while, I think it depends on our list come Rd 1 as players usually have a vote, and what players put their hand up to do this. Eagles appointed a 22 year old in Charlie Thomas so maybe with a younger group a younger leader could lead and would definitely come into the conversation.

 

[toenail63]

I am not sure if Harwood will make a good coach or not, but he was a massive part of the transformation of our team in 2022-23, we wouldn't be where we are without him.

Thanks for your input Tas I think we are looking for an experienced AFLW person with more strings to their bow the better. Our last two coaches in Tom and Ferg have come in cold and had to learn day one. Harwood would bring experience, how would he go as a General Manager of football? Congrats on your Back to Back by the way!

 

[Lord of the Wings]

I think Kate Sheahan is the #1 problem and she has been since day 1. She's obscenely under qualified for the position she's been granted, I think we hired her in the beginning because the AFLW was considered aside act, a novelty and unprofessional. N.Melbs womens program has shown up the entire league of how an expansion club can come in and dominate. Kate Sheahan needs to be fired next, imo this is all her doing.

She has been fired / made redundant

 

[A Tiger 4 lyf]

Steve Morris should’ve been upgraded to AFLW coach

 

[toenail63]

Steve Morris should’ve been upgraded to AFLW coach

Woulda, Shoulda, Coulda. Retired too early.

 

[Phar Ace]

Thursday, December 4,2025

Dear Richmond AFLW member,

Please see results of our club review into our AFLW team.

Richmond Football Club commissioned a comprehensive external review of the Club’s AFLW program in October.

The review was led by former AFL Club executive Brad Lloyd with the support of independent high-performance specialists with extensive experience across elite women's team sports.

The scope of the review included program structure and governance, culture and leadership, coaching and player development, high performance and medical support, recruitment and list strategy.

Wide-ranging consultation was undertaken across the Club including program staff and the playing group. In depth benchmarking and data analysis was also considered as part of the review.

Richmond CEO Shane Dunne said the review has been thorough and carefully considered.

"We could not ignore our on-field results in 2025. Ultimately this is about building a program that gives our female athletes the best chance of success,” Dunne said.

Following the completion of the review, the Club will implement the following changes:

The Club has informed senior coach Ryan Ferguson that he will not continue in the role.

"Ryan is a good football person and has been a valued part of the Richmond Football Club for more than a decade across our AFL, AFLW and VFL programs,” Dunne said.

“Ryan was at the helm for our first-ever AFLW win and our first finals’ appearance – historic moments and sources of great pride for the Club.

“We thank him for his significant contribution and wish he and his family all the very best for the future.

"Ultimately the decision was made that we needed a different voice, and we will now commence the search to find the best possible senior coach for our AFLW team.”

Ferguson said he leaves the Club with pride.

“I’ve loved my time at Richmond, worked with so many amazing people and I’m proud to have given everything I possibly could to every program I’ve been involved in,” Ferguson said.

"I believe in this group and wish them great success in coming seasons.”

The football department will be restructured. The role of Executive Head of Women's Football has been made redundant, and the Club will appoint a General Manager - Women's Football reporting directly to the CEO.

"As Executive Head of Women’s Football, Kate Sheahan has done a huge amount of work building our AFLW program from the ground up and we thank her for her dedication and commitment," Dunne said.

“It has taken an enormous amount of energy and passion, and Kate has brought that from the moment she walked in the door. We wish her and her family the best for whatever comes next."

Sheahan said she is proud of what has been built.

"I am grateful for the opportunity Richmond Football Club gave me to lead the establishment of its AFLW program. I will cherish my time at the Club and the relationships I built with the staff and players. I wish the Club and the AFLW program every success in the future,” Sheahan said.

Among a number of other decisions taken, the Club will:

Develop a new AFLW Performance Strategy that defines how we will close the gap and consistently compete in finals.

Re-structure the high-performance and medical functions to drive standards and create better alignment and clearer accountabilities.

Increase its investment in leadership training for the player leadership group to more effectively drive agreed values and behaviours.

Re-define list build principles to align with the future game model.

Appoint a full-time AFLW Operations & Scheduling Manager to centralise communications and accountability.

"We are absolutely committed to delivering a successful AFLW program and this review was an important part of that," Dunne said.

"We have now established a clear direction, and we look forward to the work ahead as we prepare for next season and beyond."

Thank you - the right decision - a tough one when the bloke is a good bloke - but the right decision all the same.

 

[Phar Ace]

Wow!

Dare I say it….Strong and Bold

Should have happened when we were 0-5

Moseby will be gone too but it would be silly to do it now.

Agreed - it's a good day

 

[Phar Ace]

Still hadn't announced his extension officially

That was part of the problem, though; it wasn't formalised because the process itself was informal, and that is clear to me by the way they have announced a centralised communication regime going forward. It smacked of matey stuff and why it was never formally announced it.!

They must have got wind of it and they knew it was wrong and needed to review it. Reinforced by Kate Sheahan's role becoming redundant rather than simply let go. Good corporate governance for mine.

 

[Phar Ace]

Mike Stinear left Melbourne and is weighing up what he does. Not sure on Scott Gowan if he wants to coach, but the best one would be Norths assistant coach Rhys Harwood, another good one is Swans assistant coach Tanya Hetherington however feel she may take role vacated by Scott Gowan.

Don't mind Scott Gowan. Haven't looked into why they missed the finals after looking so strong early, but he coaches a good daring style, seems a good game day coach.

 

[Tiger_4_Life]

Kate Shehan was the worst thing to happen to our club in the last 10 years. Glad she was shown the door... 3 years too late

 

[Tiger_4_Life]

Kate Shehan was the worst thing to happen to our club in the last 10 years. Glad she was shown the door... 3 years too late

 

[Phar Ace]

I think Kate Sheahan is the #1 problem and she has been since day 1. She's obscenely under qualified for the position she's been granted, I think we hired her in the beginning because the AFLW was considered aside act, a novelty and unprofessional. N.Melbs womens program has shown up the entire league of how an expansion club can come in and dominate. Kate Sheahan needs to be fired next, imo this is all her doing.

don't fret - her role ceased. Strategically, has no role moving forward.

 

[Tiger_4_Life]

Kate Shehan was the worst thing to happen to our club in the last 10 years. Glad she was shown the door... 3 years too late

 

[Phar Ace]

That's another thing we need to appoint a new captain, will be a new look all over for our women's team in 2026.

Almost certainly MonCon. That is why there will be significant leadership training. That is why she will not play WNBL this season.

 

[toenail63]

Don't mind Scott Gowan. Haven't looked into why they missed the finals after looking so strong early, but he coaches a good daring style, seems a good game day coach.

Injuries to their players definitely played a part, i.e. Chloe Molloy, Ally Morphett and Sophia Hurley

 

[tiger_tough]

Kate Shehan was the worst thing to happen to our club in the last 10 years. Glad she was shown the door... 3 years too late

At least. She's a cancer.

 

[The Vaucluse]

The frustrating piece is that Sheehan will get a payout for the position being made redundant, and Ferguson will be paid a generous severance package as he’s contracted for next year.

Clearly the ALFW program must have been running independently from other departments within the club, because you don’t get decisions being made and recommendations being accepted if things were working and there was proper independent scrutiny.

Again, I return to Brendon and I genuinely believe he didn’t have his eye on the ball for the last 2 years at Richmond.

I remember when Martin Padula was challenging Simon Crean for the seat of Hotham, his name in the office was “Sir Lunch A Lot”. I didn’t matter that he was getting a hefty salary as the State Secretary, his head had been turned and he had lost the passion for the job.

 

[Cdog71]

That was part of the problem, though; it wasn't formalised because the process itself was informal, and that is clear to me by the way they have announced a centralised communication regime going forward. It smacked of matey stuff and why it was never formally announced it.!

They must have got wind of it and they knew it was wrong and needed to review it. Reinforced by Kate Sheahan's role becoming redundant rather than simply let go. Good corporate governance for mine.

Maybe the tail has been wagging the dog for years