Footy Dept. AFLW Program led by Aysha Ward

[CrowdedHouse]

"The Age can reveal that after an extensive process, Essendon offered Pearce the position of being the club’s inaugural AFLW coach. The Bombers confirmed that Pearce, after much consideration, turned that offer down."

With current VFLW coach Brendan Major confirming he will be working in a support role (Coach and Player Development) with our AFLW program, the approach to Pearce seems to indicated we're going appoint a woman as Head Coach, one most likely a recent former player or assistant coach elsewhere.

 

[eth-dog]

Damn. Would have been a nice get but fair enough on her part

 

[Lore]

She’s probably right to take an assistant job with an experienced mentor in a mens program, as far as pathways go. Full time gig and better money (probably), and the mens programs are far better resourced generally, with Geelong certainly no exception to that.

 

[Mercurial89]

She’s probably right to take an assistant job with an experienced mentor in a mens program, as far as pathways go. Full time gig and better money (probably), and the mens programs are far better resourced generally, with Geelong certainly no exception to that.

I would like if we put the requests out to successful women's coaches in other sports, I reckon there would be some top coaches in netball for example that would be cool if we could get on board.

 

[bombadeer]

I would like if we put the requests out to successful women's coaches in other sports, I reckon there would be some top coaches in netball for example that would be cool if we could get on board.

Huh? You want to hire a netball coach as a head AFLW coach? Last time I checked, the balls are not even the same shape…

 

[Ati Tude]

Huh? You want to hire a netball coach as a head AFLW coach? Last time I checked, the balls are not even the same shape…

 

[yodellinhank]

I kind of like the job the current coach is doing.

 

[andleanback]

She’s probably right to take an assistant job with an experienced mentor in a mens program, as far as pathways go. Full time gig and better money (probably), and the mens programs are far better resourced generally, with Geelong certainly no exception to that.

I’d say she’d make more money doing aflw senior coach and media roles than She will being a low lev coach at geelong first up.

 

[Lore]

I’d say she’d make more money doing aflw senior coach and media roles than She will being a low lev coach at geelong first up.

is AFLW coaching a full time gig yet?

 

[andleanback]

is AFLW coaching a full time gig yet?

I was just talking about the money. Obviously it’s not full time yet…

 

[Chief Hopper]

Good luck to her.
Re why she rejected the Dons, when she spoke about Essendon on gameday I always thought she seemed either indifferent or just said basic stuff that I heard from any other presenter.
I'd go as far to say she seemed bored talking about the dons, therefore wouldn't be a fit for the club.
Prob reading to much into this, seems I'm the only one.

 

[Lore]

Full piece from the club website:

Bombers begin key AFLW appointments

The pieces are falling into place as the Bombers prepare to join the national women's competition.

www.essendonfc.com.au

TL;DR version:

Charlotte Miller promoted from VFLW Operations Manager to AFLW & VFLW Operations Manager

Brendan Major promoted from VFLW Head Coach to VFLW Head Coach and 'Coach and Player Development Manager'

Harmit Singh promoted to AFLW Recruitment Manager

Georgia Harvey promoted to Player Contract Manager

In short, we are looking outside for an AFLW Head Coach.

Charlotte Miller and Brendan Major both moved on from the club before the season actually started.

Miller, who was our Head of VFLW and then VFLW/AFLW Operations Manager moved on to greener pastures, with Georgia Harvey picking up the role as Head of VFLW. I'm not sure if we have a new AFLW Operations Manager... if we do it wasn't announced anywhere and I can't find any information about it. Perhaps Josh Mahoney

Josh Mahoney

Age

48

Ht

180cm

Wt

83kg

Pos.

Fwd

Career

Season

Last 5

D

11.3

3star

K

6.8

3star

HB

4.5

3star

M

3.5

4star

T

1.6

4star

G

0.9

4star

No current season stats available

D

9.2

3star

K

5.4

2star

HB

3.8

3star

M

2.2

3star

T

1.6

4star

G

0.4

3star

has been wearing that hat along with all the others lately?

Major, who was our VFLW Coach and was announced as our AFLW team's Coach and Player Development Manager, never started in that role which was instead filled by Peta Searle (Coach Development Manager) and Lauren Spark (Player Development Manager). As of last week, Travis Cloke is our new VFLW Coach.

Harmit Singh is also now moving on from the club.

Singh was working with the JHA and pathways programs prior to being appointed as our AFLW Recruitment Manager – and doing a really good job! Georgia Harvey seems to have picked up that title now, as well as head of VFLW from Miller.

So Major's job was split into three jobs, and Singh and Miller's three jobs were all rolled into one for Harvey, who is now the AFLW List & Recruiting Manager/Head of VFLW, which presumably still includes the Contract Manager role she was announced as having a year ago!

All that means Harvey is no longer the AFL team's List and Recruiting Compliance Coordinator (and previously Recruiting and List Administrator) where she was working alongside Dodoro, RFK etc. since 2016. Presumably she has also stepped out of the JHA stuff she was doing previously... which means the JHA is probably flapping in the breeze?



Altogether the AFLW & VFLW departments seems to be just as gutted as the rest of the place at the moment.

 

[The Donners]

Charlotte Miller and Brendan Major both moved on from the club before the season actually started.

Miller, who was our Head of VFLW and then VFLW/AFLW Operations Manager moved on to greener pastures, with Georgia Harvey picking up the role as Head of VFLW. I'm not sure if we have a new AFLW Operations Manager... if we do it wasn't announced anywhere and I can't find any information about it. Perhaps Josh Mahoney has been wearing that hat along with all the others lately?

Major, who was our VFLW Coach and was announced as our AFLW team's Coach and Player Development Manager, never started in that role which was instead filled by Peta Searle (Coach Development Manager) and Lauren Spark (Player Development Manager). As of last week, Travis Cloke is our new VFLW Coach.

Harmit Singh is also now moving on from the club.

Singh was working with the JHA and pathways programs prior to being appointed as our AFLW Recruitment Manager – and doing a really good job! Georgia Harvey seems to have picked up that title now, as well as head of VFLW from Miller.

So Major's job was split into three jobs, and Singh and Miller's three jobs were all rolled into one for Harvey, who is now the AFLW List & Recruiting Manager/Head of VFLW, which presumably still includes the Contract Manager role she was announced as having a year ago!

All that means Harvey is no longer the AFL team's List and Recruiting Compliance Coordinator (and previously Recruiting and List Administrator) where she was working alongside Dodoro, RFK etc. since 2016. Presumably she has also stepped out of the JHA stuff she was doing previously... which means the JHA is probably flapping in the breeze?



Altogether the AFLW & VFLW departments seems to be just as gutted as the rest of the place at the moment.

I presume there will be a replacement for Harvey in the list and recruiting compliance coordinator role and hopefully there’ll be a replacement for the head of the list and recruitment department.

 

[Lore]

I presume there will be a replacement for Harvey in the list and recruiting compliance coordinator role and hopefully there’ll be a replacement for the head of the list and recruitment department.

Seems like a bit of a clean out yeah. Although I guess technically she might be doing both, if the compliance role is absorbed into what she's doing now. You'd think what she's got on her plate now is probably enough for one person though.

 

[Lore]

McPherson, Ward to lead Essendon’s Football Department

Essendon Football Club is delighted to announce the appointments of Daniel McPherson to General Manager – AFL and Aysha Ward to General Manager – AFLW.

These appointments have been made as part of a revised structure within the football department, with the club now having two senior executive positions focused solely on each of the AFL and the AFLW programs.

This structure allows for a concentrated approach on each elite program, as the club looks to maximise performance and build winning cultures in both areas.

Essendon CEO Craig Vozzo congratulated Daniel McPherson and Aysha Ward on their elevations to the club executive.

“We feel that these are two great appointments that will strengthen both our AFL and AFLW programs. Dan and Aysha are both high quality people and we look forward to their leadership in driving each area forward and having a significant impact on the club more generally,” Vozzo said.

“The updated structure is designed to create clear accountabilities within each elite program and to ensure both programs have an executive member solely focused on their success.

“Both Dan and Aysha were standout candidates for these positions, and we’re delighted to be able to promote our people from within and I congratulate them on their appointments.”

McPherson, Ward to lead Essendon's Football Department

New GMs of football announced.

www.essendonfc.com.au

Ward joined the Bombers in 2015. Most recently, Ward has held the dual role of Head of AFLW and AFL Operations Manager.

Ward’s new role as General Manager – AFLW, will see her lead the entire Women’s Football program, both at AFLW and VFLW levels.

Ward, who formerly played in Essendon's VFLW side, has successfully assisted in leading the women’s program as Head of AFLW. In 2022, she played a major role in securing the club's AFLW licence to help establish the Bombers' first playing list and coaching structure.

“Aysha is a highly respected football person both within Essendon and throughout the AFL industry,” Vozzo said.

"She brings great expertise, passion and commitment to our football club and it will be terrific to now have her on our executive team driving our Women’s programs and aspects of our wider community engagement strategies.”

Ward said she was looking forward to driving a successful women’s program at Essendon.

“I feel honoured to continue leading our women’s programs and be able to solely focus on progressing our development in the competition in the years to come,” Ward said.

“I’m proud of the club for elevating the role to the Executive and look forward to being a strong voice representing our women’s strategy. I will ensure our players, coaches and staff have everything they need to be the best people they can be and to build sustained success in the AFLW competition.

“I have loved working at Essendon for eight years and look forward to the next challenge,” Ward said.

McPherson, Ward to lead Essendon's Football Department

New GMs of football announced.

www.essendonfc.com.au

 

[eth-dog]

Another internal appointment but less nervous about this one. Our women's program is better run (relatively speaking) than the men.

 

[Lore]

Another internal appointment but less nervous about this one. Our women's program is better run (relatively speaking) than the men.

It’s basically just a restructure, so makes sense to be internal

 

[ant555]

Bombers make move to appoint new AFLW list manager

The Bombers have landed their new AFLW list manager

www.afl.com.au

 

[RedmanWasHere]

Bombers make move to appoint new AFLW list manager

The Bombers have landed their new AFLW list manager

www.afl.com.au

Name sounds familiar.

Wonder if he was an Eastern Ranges player well before my time of following the drafts.