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Senior Women’s Coaching Appointments 2026
Keep track of new senior women’s coaching appointments right here across the off-season.
WILLIAM BUCK PREMIER WOMEN’S
KEW: MANNIE DI PARSIA
Mannie has spent the past two seasons coaching the Bears’ Under 19 men’s team, taking his side into the finals in both seasons, including the Prelim in 2025.
Prior to arriving at the Bears, he coached at Kew Comets, Hawthorn Citizens, Xavier College and Yarra Magpies Academy, as well as the YJFL Under 16 Championship team.
WILLIAMSTOWN CYMS: MATT MARSDEN
Matt joins CYs with more than a dozen years of experience coaching women’s footy, including leading Geelong West Giants to their 2023 flag.
He also has experience with the Port Melbourne VFL & Box Hill VFLW programs.
Matt will also work closely with Willy’s new Under 19 women’s program as part of the club’s ongoing women’s development strategy.
PREMIER B WOMEN’S
MARCELLIN: MATT COGHLAN
Matt Coghlan takes over from Paul Harvey in the Eagles’ women’s program for 2026.
Matt has been the senior women’s coach at Coldstream in the EFNL for the past two seasons, leading them to back-to-back Grand Finals.
OLD BRIGHTON: PAT MALONE
Pat joins the 2025 Premier B Women’s premiers from Brighton Beach JFC, where he was President and Head of Women’s Football.
He has also previously held Senior Assistant and Strength & Conditioning roles at senior level, post his own playing days.
DIVISION 1 WOMEN’S
BRUNSWICK: AMY DILLON
Assistant coach Amy Dillon steps up to the senior job, replacing Sasha Dougherty, who has taken up a fantastic opportunity in the Calder Cannons’ Youth Girls program.
Amy boasts years of experience coaching netball teams and professional leadership, and, with a season under her belt, is ready to help the Renegades take the next step in 2026.
HAMPTON ROVERS: BRENT WARD
Brent Ward takes over solo coaching duties after sharing the role with Alana Graham in 2025. He has been with the Rovers’ women’s program since 2022, with the team playing in two Grand Finals for a premiership in the years since.
Prior to his time with Rovers, Brent had an extensive playing and coaching career, including coaching the Beaumaris senior women’s team.
RICHMOND CENTRAL: BRONTE RYAN
Bronte arrives at Kevin Bartlett Reserve with plenty of high-level coaching experience behind her, including as a Forwards coach at Claremont in the WAFLW, then at North Melbourne VFLW as Senior Assistant and backline coach.
She has also coached senior Premier VAFA Women’s footy with Fitzroy and Melbourne Uni, and after a couple of years off, returns to the league as the Head of the Snakes!
DIVISION 2 WOMEN’S
OLD CAREY: ANDREW HARWOOD
Andrew Harwood takes the reins in 2026 and arrives with four decades of experience as a player, coach and administrator.
A life member of Heidelberg, he established their first women’s team in 2017, and spent three seasons as senior women’s coach from 2022-24.
DIVISION 3 WOMEN’S
SOUTH MELBOURNE DISTRICTS: TIM HABEL
Tim joins the Swans from North Brunswick, where he was senior women’s coach in 2025.
He has been regularly involved behind the scenes at VAFA and club level as a delegate and Board member, and was also previously an Assistant coach in the UHS program for a season in 2019.
DIVISION 4 WOMEN’S
CANTERBURY: TONY PISANI
Having previously coached the men’s reserves before taking a well-earned break in 2025, Tony Pisani takes up the job as senior women’s coach of the Cobras next season.
If your club has made a recent senior appointment, let us know at [email protected]!
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