News VFLW: Pies farewell Penny

[Jen2310]

Collingwood will farewell the club’s inaugural VFLW coach Penny Cula-Reid as she pursues another football coaching opportunity.

Cula-Reid took the team to VFLW premiership glory in 2019 and a Preliminary final in 2018. The team was minor premier in both seasons, winning 12 games each year.

A foundation player for Collingwood’s AFLW team, Cula-Reid joined the club with pick No. 102 in the inaugural AFL Women’s Draft in 2016.

She played two matches with the club before being appointed as an AFLW development coach and VFLW senior coach for the 2018 season. In her first season in the role, Cula-Reid was named VFLW Coach of the Year.

A lifelong supporter of the black-and-white stripes, Cula-Reid expressed her gratitude to the club as she prepares for her next step.

“I’d like to thank the Collingwood Football Club for giving me the opportunity to play as well as start my coaching career,” Cula-Reid said.

“As a Collingwood fan, it’s been an amazing experience working on the inside of the club I’ve supported and it definitely has not disappointed.

“I’ve been so proud to see the women’s football program grow during my three years at the club and I wish all of the teams the best for the 2020 season.”

Collingwood GM Women’s Sport Jane Woodlands-Thompson thanked Cula-Reid for her service.

“It hurts but it is also heartening. We’re so proud of what Penny has achieved at the Collingwood Football Club and pleased we could play a role in her development as a coach over the past two years,” Woodlands-Thompson said.

“While it is sad to see Penny leave, it is a commitment we have made at Collingwood to develop our people and we understand that if we do that successfully then they will not only become better coaches, players and people but attractive to other organisations. We can understand why Penny is an attractive candidate for new opportunities.

“We thank Penny for helping to deliver our first women’s football Premiership, we wish her well as she takes the next step in her career and we hope that she returns to us one day.

“With Penny’s departure, we look forward to again creating an opportunity for another promising coach to excel in our women’s football program.”

VFLW: Pies farewell Penny

Collingwood will farewell the club’s inaugural VFLW coach Penny Cula-Reid as she pursues another football coaching opportunity.

www.collingwoodfc.com.au

 

[TradeDraft]

Pretty Lousy wins the Flag then Leaves. Guess a AFLW Job

 

[76woodenspooners]

Don’t blame her for striving for better opportunities ...

... and it’s always good for developing coaches to get a taste for different environments ...

... but a bit disappointed that we couldn’t find an opportunity for her in collingwood’s programs (even in the men’s program)

 

[Vicky Park]

Disappointing for us, as Penny's record to date is outstanding.

But good for her, and I hope she continues to have a successful career in footy, and is well rewarded for it. Maybe we can entice her back eventually, to coach our AFLW team or join our men's footy program.

Thanks Penny.

 

[barrackers]

On field results show she done well with our VFLW program and undoubtably will be a loss. While there were no reports linking Cula-Reid to our AFLW position I'd be surprised if she wasn't considered. She seems very astute, so perhaps she wanted to further develop her skills before stepping up and seeing an environment outside of Collingwood can only help her coaching career.

Her departure does create an opportunity for greater continuity between our AFLW and VFLW sides from a coaching perspective and hopefully we see Symonds to coach both sides.

 

[barrackers]

 

[TradeDraft]

Don’t blame her for striving for better opportunities ...

... and it’s always good for developing coaches to get a taste for different environments ...

... but a bit disappointed that we couldn’t find an opportunity for her in collingwood’s programs (even in the men’s program)

Going by Report she is just having the Same Postion at another VFLW Side.

Big Stuff up by the Club

 

[76woodenspooners]

Why would a coach on the rise go from being a premiership coach of Collingwood VFLW to move to Williamstown VFLW?

Doesn’t make any sense to me

 

[Jen2310]

I agree, it doesn't make sense if she''s just going to Williamson/crows vflw. If she's leaving a premiership vflw side, you'd think it was for a aflw role. Assistant or whatever.

 

[Vicky Park]

There must be something attractive about the alignment with the Crows. They are the league benchmark for AFLW success. Or, despite the alignment, the Williamstown coaching job gives Penny more independence or more say in how the VFLW team is run. Could also just be better remuneration. Who knows?

 

[76woodenspooners]

There must be something attractive about the alignment with the Crows. They are the league benchmark for AFLW success.

Yeah, good point

Or, despite the alignment, the Williamstown coaching job gives Penny more independence or more say in how the VFLW team is run. Could also just be better remuneration. Who knows?

Would have hoped that Penny would have earnt all the independence she needed at Collingwood, and that Collingwood’s remuneration would have been competitive.

Nevertheless, in the presser Woodlands-Thompson does say that she hopes Penny does come back to Collingwood again in the future, so hopefully that happens.

 

[jackcass]

Interesting. Good luck to her in whatever her new role entails. I was a little disappointed she didn't get the AFLW role but maybe a greater depth and variety of experience is what she needs to take that next step. She bleeds B&W so I don't doubt she'll be back at some stage.

 

[barrackers]

Williamstown confirmed, no specifics given, but hints she’ll have some involvement with their VFL team too.

Premiership Magpie joins the Seagulls

Williamstown Football Club home of the Seagulls since 1864.

www.williamstownfc.com.au

 

[TradeDraft]

Why would a coach on the rise go from being a premiership coach of Collingwood VFLW to move to Williamstown VFLW?

Doesn’t make any sense to me

I can only think she was offered huge $$$$$$$$$$

 

[Jen2310]

The Seagulls women’s program has been a work in progress over the past two years, but the appointment of Cula-Reid, one of the best coaches in the league, will fast track their development.

Cula-Reid did not take the decision to leave Collingwood lightly, but felt it was in the best interests of her coaching career to take on a new challenge with Williamstown.

“The decision wasn’t easy,” Cula-Reid told starweekly.com.au.

“I’m a Collingwood girl at heart, but for my footy career and my future, it’s something I’m really looking forward to.

“I think the opportunities that Williamstown has provided me is something that I can’t pass up.

“Being at a standalone club is really going to challenge me as a coach.

“It will be good just to learn and to de-brief and reflect on the seasons that I had at Collingwood, but to be able to use that experience and bring that into Williamstown.”

Cula-Reid takes over a Williamstown side that finished rock bottom in 2019.

It will be a different Seagulls outfit next season with Cula-Reid intent on speeding up the development of the established players, topping up with some new recruits and the addition of five Adelaide Crows AFLW players each week to instill more leadership and quality.

“It’s 100% going to strengthen us,” Cula-Reid said of the Crows-aligned players.

“I’m hopeful they’re going to be able to influence the young players we have here to show them what it’s like and what they need to do to get to the next level.”

Cula-Reid has an infectious enthusiasm for her new role at Williamstown.

The 31-year-old had a beaming smile as she hoisted a Seagulls scarf into the air for photos.

“It’s exciting,” she said.

“It’s one of the oldest clubs in the land and it’s great to be a part of.

“I wish preseason started tomorrow, so I can just get stuck into it.”

While Cula-Reid is ready to embrace and learn more about the history of Williamstown, she is also keen to “put my spin on it”.

Penny Cula-Reid ready for new challenge with Williamstown - Star Weekly

Williamstown has pulled off a VFL Women’s coaching coup, enticing …

www.starweekly.com.au

 

[3066]

From the outside looking in it seems we’ve stuffed up. I hope that’s not the case.

Good luck Penny. Hope you grow stronger and return back to the Black and White some day soon. Thanks so much for our 1st VFLW flag.

 

[Quicky]

Yeah, good point



Would have hoped that Penny would have earnt all the independence she needed at Collingwood, and that Collingwood’s remuneration would have been competitive.

Nevertheless, in the presser Woodlands-Thompson does say that she hopes Penny does come back to Collingwood again in the future, so hopefully that happens.

It might be valuable to gain experience in another environment. Particularly given Adelaides success in the womans game.