Coaching Staff Swans AFLW Coaching Staff

[Ticky009]

2026 Coaching Group:

Head Coach: Colin O'Riordan

38

Colin O'riordan

Age

30

Ht

186cm

Wt

87kg

Pos.

Def

Career

Season

Last 5

D

12.7

3star

K

6.4

3star

HB

6.3

4star

M

3.8

4star

T

2.0

4star

MG

190.1

3star

D

8.5

2star

K

4.0

1star

HB

4.5

3star

M

1.8

2star

T

1.5

2star

MG

98.5

2star

D

15.8

4star

K

8.2

4star

HB

7.6

5star

M

5.0

5star

T

2.4

4star

MG

267.8

5star

Line Coach: Brooke Lochland (Forwards)
Line Coach: Lochie Hunter (Backs)
Line Coach: Tanya Hetherington (Midfield)

 

[Callipygian]

On The Wrap, they suggested that Demons coach Mick Stinear may be coaching for a different club next season. Could it be us??

 

[carter_capture]

On The Wrap, they suggested that Demons coach Mick Stinear may be coaching for a different club next season. Could it be us??

More likely Geelong if he leaves - he was concerned about the commute from his home on the Surf Coast to Demons and its impact on his family so a Cats move makes sense.

 

[Callipygian]

More likely Geelong if he leaves - he was concerned about the commute from his home on the Surf Coast to Demons and its impact on his family so a Cats move makes sense.

Too bad. But that does make sense. Will be a great get for Geelong if they get him.

Been taking any pics of our players lately? Looks like you took some of the women near the end of the season?

 

[Callipygian]

Two things from Zippy's interview on Tagged:

1. According to Zippy it was Gowans' decision to go (and she personally was "a bit devastated").

2. This could just be a meaningless slip but, referring to the (unknown) new coach she said "he". I suspect the club already knows who it is and, just possibly, the players do too. Can't wait to find out.

 

[Adnico26Parker]

There was a passing reference to us in a Code article about Ryan Davis

Ryan Davis

Age

36

Ht

188cm

Wt

85kg

Pos.

Fwd

Career

Season

Last 5

D

11.8

3star

K

7.5

3star

HB

4.4

3star

M

2.4

3star

T

3.5

5star

G

0.5

3star

No current season stats available

D

11.2

3star

K

6.4

3star

HB

4.8

4star

M

2.4

3star

T

3.0

5star

G

0.2

3star

likely to get the Adelaide job:

Carlton assistant Glenn Strachan and North Melbourne assistant Rhys Harwood have also been linked to the jobs in Melbourne and Sydney.

 

[Callipygian]

Kangaroos reveal coaching panel for 2025

The North Melbourne Tasmanian Kangaroos have revealed their coaching line-up for the 2025 season

www.nmfc.com.au

He sounds pretty experienced and that he has been involved in all aspects of running a football program over a number of years now. No doubt Scott Gowans could have given us his intel on Harwood too. If Gowans decided to up and go, hopefully he was willing to offer input into finding a successor (assuming we wanted any - but if it's all amicable, why wouldn't we?).

 

[joeykanga]

And this is the other one .

Blues appoint VFLW Senior Coach

Glenn Strachan has been appointed Senior Coach for Carlton’s VFLW team.

www.carltonfc.com.au

And id personally take a look at this guy too.

North Melbourne appoints new VFLW senior coach

The club has appointed Brett Gourley as its VFLW senior coach for 2024

www.nmfc.com.au

Hes the VFLW rep coach.

 

[Callipygian]

Hot off the press on the W Show: Sydney are only just starting (!!) their hunt for a coach and, Riley Beveridge said, Tanya Hetherington is a name he expects to feature "prominently". Why are we only starting now?? Can that be true?? Surely we would take advantage of the headstart we have on Melbourne and Geelong, just as Adelaide took advantage to line up the Brisbane assistant.

 

[Callipygian]

Nice that Ash Riddell gave a shout out to "Scott [Gowans] and Rhys [Harwood]" for believing in her and giving her a shot at the AFLW in her acceptance speech at the W Awards.

 

[Callipygian]

I hope we hear something on this front this week. I think it is undesirable to be entering trade period without a head coach in place.

 

[Callipygian]

Listening to Gowans speech () he described the decision to leave as a "two way conversation". Certainly he referred to the pull of family in Melbourne with his Jodie's kids having lots of important milestones (first wedding, first grandchild etc.), equally he referred to what the club needs going forward into the future and what he needed to do to grow his coaching. Also there was an assurance that there was no bad blood between the club and him (which probably that wouldn't have been necessary if he had left 100% on his own terms a la Longmire). So it seems this was a change initiated just as much by the club (and, possibly, especially Pav) as Gowans himself.

I 100% agree with Kiama Chris that while I have some excitement about what a new coach may bring, I am really grateful we had Scotty to launch us on our way and I think that he and Kate Mahoney did an exceptional job the first couple of seasons in very difficult circumstances. Somehow, at warp speed, we already have the right to think of ourselves as a club that can demand to play finals. That is credit to all the staff and all the players but probably especially to Scotty 'Go Swans' Gowans.

However, I am very impatient about the announcement of a new coach. I want us to have a good process to find the right fit for the club, but I also don't want to miss out on our ideal candidate (to Geelong, Richmond etc) because we didn't move quickly enough. I do think we have a lot to offer a new coach that other clubs can't match. To balance that out geography may be against us.

 

[Adnico26Parker]

Sydney is set to make history and appoint the first ever Irish AFL/AFLW coach, with Colin O'Riordan to replace Scott Gowans in charge of its women's program. Swans players told of the news this morning.

Swans set to appoint ex-Irish player to replace Gowans in top job

Former Irish Swan Colin O'Riordan is set to take the reins as Sydney's new AFLW coach

www.afl.com.au

 

[Adnico26Parker]

 

[Kiama Chris]

Wow! All the best Colin. Couldn't happen to a nicer bloke.

 

[joeykanga]

 

[Callipygian]

Well, at last! Took long enough. At least that suggests they did a thorough and proper process before picking the inside guy.

I am a huge fan of Colin. He is indeed a top bloke. I knew he has been involved in the AFLW program but I did not see this coming. I have little idea what kind of a coach he will be. I know he's passionate. I know he has experience at the Swans both with the Academy and with the W program. Otherwise he is probably not as experienced as some other prospective candidates may have been. I'd love to know more about what made him the "standout choice". I'm wishing Colin all the very best as our new head coach. I imagine he will be popular with everyone because he is indeed such a great person.

Colin O’Riordan named Sydney Swans AFLW Coach

The Sydney Swans are thrilled to announce Colin O’Riordan has been appointed AFLW Senior Coach for the 2026 season and beyond.

www.sydneyswans.com.au

 

[RnR from RWO]

6 weeks to select the guy that was under your nose the whole time. Not reading anything into that. In any case, best of luck to him. Perhaps this appointment will attract some A grade Irish talent - even if it doesn't, I really rate our list.

 

[Adnico26Parker]

6 weeks to select the guy that was under your nose the whole time. Not reading anything into that. In any case, best of luck to him. Perhaps this appointment will attract some A grade Irish talent - even if it doesn't, I really rate our list.

How good is a thorough coaching search!

 

[GotTheGoodes]

Great choice I reckon. Knows the club, the staff & the systems... A people person & obviously a great footy IQ (having transferred so successfully between codes).

Good luck to him & hope he gets the most out of the list!

 

[Callipygian]

I got all good reports about Colin O'Riordan

38

Colin O'riordan

Age

30

Ht

186cm

Wt

87kg

Pos.

Def

Career

Season

Last 5

D

12.7

3star

K

6.4

3star

HB

6.3

4star

M

3.8

4star

T

2.0

4star

MG

190.1

3star

D

8.5

2star

K

4.0

1star

HB

4.5

3star

M

1.8

2star

T

1.5

2star

MG

98.5

2star

D

15.8

4star

K

8.2

4star

HB

7.6

5star

M

5.0

5star

T

2.4

4star

MG

267.8

5star

today. The positive comments included:

* he is good at connecting with the playing group

* he already has a connections with the group from his previous involvement with the program, and also knows about the program for the same reason, which should help smooth the tranistion

* he is very passionate (which we knew already)

* he works hard on his craft

* he is good at explaining and teaching skills, especially the basics, and (unlike some other coaches) doesn't assume knowledge (that may not be known). I suggested this might be related to his moving from GAA and having to learn the game from scratch and that suggestion was endorsed.

I also got some veiled corroboration of the suggestion on the W Show late last year that (some) Swans players had a say in Gowans moving on. There was a sense that he had perhaps taken the playing group as far as he could and it was time to get some fresh ideas and input.

I also heard great things about how important and influential Lachie Hunter has been in his coaching. He has brought ideas from the men's game that weren't being widely applied in W and helped us to get the best rate of transition from D50 to F50 in the comp last season.\

Overall I left with a sense that coaching may be one of the areas with the most room for growth and improvement in the W game. Perhaps the coaching isn't keeping pace with the rapid rate of improvement of the players.