Adelaide is hopeful of finding its next AFLW coach within a month

ADELAIDE has formed a selection panel and will soon interview for Bec Goddard’s replacement.

Departed women’s coach Bec Goddard. Picture: Tom Huntley

ADELAIDE hopes to secure its next women’s coach within the next month with the selection panel meeting for the first time this week.

The Crows are seeking a replacement for 2017 inaugural AFLW premiership coach Bec Goddard, who left her post to continue her career with the Australian Federal Police in Canberra.

It is understood Goddard was offered the position but turned it down after she and the club could not reach an agreement on the conditions of the job.

The panel is made up of football administration manager Phil Harper, SA football commissioner and former netball coach Jane Woodlands-Thompson, club board member Linda Fellows and AFLNT high performance manager Wally Gallo.

The job will be offered full-time but a part-time arrangement will be considered.

Outside of the AFLW season, the new coach will be responsible for strategic planning, involved with the club’s next generation academy and community programs.

Harper, who works across both the men’s and the women’s programs, said the club expected to interview three to four candidates over the next few weeks.

Crows head of football Brett Burton said the club had welcomed interest both from within and from outside the club to fill the role.

It has already been speculated one of Goddard’s assistant coaches, which include premiership players Andrew McLeod and Peter Caven, or an assistant coach in the men’s program would see the role as an opportunity.

The club’s search for a new AFLW coach comes as the league is in a state of change; it will expand from eight to 10 teams next season with Geelong and North Melbourne joining the national women’s competition.

It will lead to a longer season, which is also likely to include a top-four finals system, an idea that was championed by Goddard.

The Crows AFLW team will continue its partnership with the AFLNT and will retain one player base in Adelaide and a smaller one in Darwin.