Brisbane AFLW coach Craig Starcevich signs new two-year contract extension

Craig Starcevich loves fighting to get AFL recognition in Queensland, so he’s sticking around for a bit longer as the Lions push for their second AFLW premiership.

Lions head coach Craig Starcevich. Picture: Getty Images

Craig Starcevich loves the fight for AFL in Queensland, and the foundation AFL Women’s senior coach will have the gloves on for at least another two seasons after penning a new deal that he hopes will be capped with a second premiership in the weeks to come.

As Brisbane prepares for its seventh finals campaign in eight seasons, Starcevich said a flag would be the ultimate reward for those at the club who have stuck fat, snubbing the competition’s expansion in favour of what the Lions have built.

“We’ve got some great people,” Starcevich said, having lost a key trio in Emily Bates and Greta Bodey to Hawthorn and Jesse Wardlaw to St Kilda at the end of last season.

“Those that have left have gone for better deals, so there’s not much that you can do about that.

“But we’ve got a high number of people that have given up those opportunities to stay.

“You know that they’re genuine and loyal and rusted-on.”

Craig Starcevich has signed a fresh deal with the Lions. Picture: Supplied

This masthead can reveal that Starcevich has signed on until at least the end of 2025, which will make him one of the longest-serving coaches in the game with Melbourne counterpart Mick Stinear the only other leader from the competition’s foundation year that remains at the same club.

Starcevich has been at the helm since the team’s inception ahead of the 2017 season, with football boss Breeanna Brock another mainstay.

A number of key players including skipper Breanna Koenen and star midfielder Ally Anderson remain from the foundation team.

Starcevich moved to Queensland 30 years ago this year – then as a player – and now splits his time between Basel, Switzerland, where his wife works and the sunshine state.

It means his off-season – and not that there is much of one as a senior coach – sees him conducting countless video calls in the wee hours to keep things ticking.

He admits he never thought he would remain in Queensland for this long, but that his love for continuing to develop the women’s competition is what spurs him as another two years now looms.

“I like the blank canvas bit – that we’ve sort of started at scratch,” he said.

“The other bit I really like, too, is when I first moved up here … coming from a big Melbourne club and coming up here was a bit of a culture shock when we made the move.

Starcevich is up for the challenge to generate more interest in the AFL and AFLW in Queensland. Picture: Getty Images

“You live in Queensland long enough, you’re sort of scratching for AFL’s recognition all the time. This team is sort of generally helping spread the word of AFL in Queensland, I guess. That’s always been the battle – just to capture the public’s attention for our sport both in the men’s and the women’s.

“I love the fight. Absolutely love the fight for it. You love the sport and you think it’s the greatest sport ever. I grew up in Perth and played footy in Melbourne. If you’re from those two places, it’s just not an argument. But if you move somewhere else and you’ve got to convince people that we’ve got the best sport in the world, that’s the bit that is always the battle.”

The Lions suffered hometown heartbreak in the premiership decider last year, falling short of Melbourne at its Springfield base in the first game played at the team’s headquarters.

And as a tilt at a second flag – having saluted in 2021 – would be some way to mark his 30th anniversary in Queensland.

The modern gift for a 30th anniversary is diamond – to represent lasting durability and strength. Seems fitting.

“It would be nice, but fairytales never turn out – I found that out the hard way last year,” he said, opting against using last year’s result as direct motivation for his players this November.

“However long we last, each of these games is going to be its own unique little story,” Starcevich said.

Originally published as Brisbane AFLW coach Craig Starcevich signs new two-year contract extension