Ex-Hills Football League women’s team coach Chris Howie to lead Norwood’s SANFLW team in 2020
Taking over from a premiership coach but the Redlegs’ new women’s mentor Chris Howie is looking forward to the challenge.
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Norwood has appointed a new women’s senior coach for 2020 four months after premiership mentor Steve Symonds resigned.
On Thursday the Redlegs announced Chris Howie – ex coach of Nairne Bremer women’s team – would be Symonds’ successor.
Howie has spent more than a decade coaching junior boys teams and developing girls squads.
He was also a major playmaker in establishing the Hills Football League’s women’s competition.
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The 54-year-old takes over from Symonds, who was appointed Collingwood’s AFLW senior coach in June.
Howie concedes he has big shoes to fill after Symonds led Norwood to a flag, a runner-up finish and preliminary final in his three years at the helm.
But he is keen to continue to build Norwood up as a force in the local women’s competition.
“I never expected to be presented with this opportunity and I am a little bit humbled that they thought I was the right person,” Howie, of Nairne, says.
“I don’t get nervous (usually) but I am.
“I’m very excited but I’m probably nervous because I’ve normally taken over sides that have been down the ladder about and we’ve improved them and got them to a result.
“But this time I’m taking on what I consider a high performance team and my job is to keep them where they are.
“The women and the girls are so keen to learn and I enjoy that.”
The father-of-two will be challenged with filling the void of star midfielders Najwa Allen (Adelaide), Hannah Dunn (Gold Coast) and Hannah Priest (St Kilda) after they were selected at the AFLW Draft.
But he says it will allow younger players to get a taste of senior footy.
“Playing for Norwood is about giving them the best opportunity to play at the highest level – and that’s AFLW,” he says.
“That’s a big tick.
“But the previous three years, Norwood has lost half of its key players to other sides to help build the competition.
“This will be the first year that Norwood, other than those (AFLW) draft picks, can actually stand with their squad and those four going provides opportunity for others to come to the top.
“The junior sides are starting to inject some really good talent into the senior sides.”