Changing of the guard as Vlahos, Brownhill step down

There’s a changing of the guard at two more William Buck Premier Women’s clubs, with Theo Vlahos (Kew FC) and Simon Brownhill (St Mary’s Salesian) recently announcing they’d be stepping down from their senior coaching posts.

Both Vlahos and Brownhill have been instrumental in the rise of their women’s teams, having been involved since their clubs first joined the VAFA Women’s competition.

“In 2017, the footy club needed a high-quality, experienced coach to take over the management of our talented Senior Women’s side, and Theo was by far the best man for the job,” Kew FC wrote in a statement.

“He eagerly took on the role and both our Women’s sides thrived under his mentorship and have done so to this day.”

The Bears joined the VAFA from the NFNL in 2018, finishing third and making a preliminary final in William Buck Premier Women’s.

Brownhill joined St Mary’s Salesian in 2016 and coached the reserves to back-to-back preliminary final appearances in 2018 and 2019. Before taking the senior coaching reins in 2020, Brownhill was also an assistant during the club’s premiership campaigns of 2017 and 2018.

“Simon has been a heart and soul contributor to our women’s football program since its inception in 2016,” St Mary’s Salesian President, Greg Baum, said.

“St Mary’s Salesian can never thank Simon enough for the effort he put into establishing and nurturing our women’s football section, and he finishes up knowing he has the respect and affection of all at our club. He will always be a Saint.”

The VAFA thanks Theo and Simon for their outstanding contributions to the VAFA Women’s competition.

The departure of Vlahos and Brownhill comes just weeks after Caulfield Grammarians and premiership coach, Mitch Dupljanin, agreed to part ways.