Andrew McLeod’s future at Adelaide uncertain months after questioning club culture
Andrew McLeod’s coaching future at Adelaide remains uncertain, almost six months after the Crows great broke ranks and questioned the club’s culture.
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The Crows are poised to announce former club great Scott Thompson will return to West Lakes to take on a coaching role with their premiership-winning AFLW side.
However, it’s not yet clear whether two-time Norm Smith Medallist Andrew McLeod will return to the coaching staff.
The Advertiser understands Adelaide has sounded out two-time Club Champion Thompson for a role in the women’s coaching ranks, working under head coach Matthew Clarke and alongside current assistant coaches Narelle Smith and Peter Caven.
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It’s understood that a current senior player could also take on a new assistant role in the AFLW team.
Thompson, 37, spent two seasons as the midfield development coach at Port Adelaide, but in April was stepped down from that at the Power in the aftermath of the COVID-19 global pandemic.
Thompson played 308 AFL games (269 with Adelaide and 39 with Melbourne), before retiring in 2017.
McLeod has been the AFLW’s midfield coach for three seasons, since joining in late 2017, but made headlines in June when he questioned the culture of the club on his weekly podcast Bunji and the Brettster.
“If you asked me if I felt comfortable walking back into the football club, I’d say no,” the 340-game legend said in June.
“For me, the Crows, it doesn’t really have that vibe, it doesn’t have that vibe where it feels like you’re really welcome there.”
The Crows AFLW squad has returned to West Lakes for pre-season training, which is being held under strict COVID-19 protocols.
RICHMOND UNVEILS FERGUSON AS AFLW COACH
— Lauren Wood
Richmond has redeployed men’s assistant coach Ryan Ferguson to head up its AFL Women’s outfit.
He is the third in a recent string of men’s program coaches to be redirected to an AFL Women’s team role, but the club has said that his responsibilities will lie solely with the women’s team.
Darren Crocker is at the helm at North Melbourne and will also fulfil AFL scouting duties, and Daniel Pratt recently announced as West Coast’s new AFLW coach.
Adelaide head coach Matthew Clarke shifted from the Crows’ men’s program to the women’s in 2018, while Geelong’s Paul Hood, GWS coach Alan McConnell and Melbourne’s Mick Stinear are just a few who have made a similar transition.
Ferguson, who moved to Punt Road at the end of 2015 and has most recently worked as development and backline coach in the Tigers’ AFL and VFL programs, will take the reins for his first AFLW training session on Monday.
“I am thrilled to accept this opportunity,” he said on Friday.
“I have taken a keen interest in this program over the years, so it is familiar to me and I am really excited to join the team.
“It is exciting to have the opportunity to coach this particular group and there are so many great people in the program already.”
The Tigers have been on the hunt for an AFLW coach after it parted ways with Tom Hunter at the end of its winless 2020 campaign.
The club also axed its VFL Women’s team for 2021, but recently announced an alignment with Port Melbourne for the VFLW competition.
While there’ll be “a lot of fun” under Ferguson – whose wife and winter Olympian Bree Munro worked with the AFLW players in their fitness program – he has promised “direction and high standards”.
“We want to drive some really elite habits within the group,” the former Melbourne player declared.
“The girls have put in a power of work already and as a program, we look forward to helping them continue on the journey.
“There seems to be a lot of excitement around. The girls have been amazing with reaching out and messaging me to make me feel welcome and to show how excited they are and how hard they have been working over the pre-season.”
AFL Women’s teams returned to pre-season training this week, with clubs given the green light to begin their training program on Wednesday rather than the usual two-week induction program.
Tigers head of women’s football Kate Sheahan said that players would “greatly benefit” from Ferguson’s direction and experience in development.
“We love his passion and energy and commitment to improvement and feel he is the perfect person to take this group forward,” she said.
AFL WOMEN’S COACHES FOR 2021
ADELAIDE
MATTHEW CLARKE
Has led the Crows since May 2018, including to the 2019 premiership. Prior to coaching, played 258 AFL games across four clubs. Worked as Adelaide men’s team ruck coach and development coach before moving to the AFLW program.
BRISBANE LIONS
CRAIG STARCEVICH
Has coached Brisbane since the team’s inception. After 144 AFL games, went into the fitness side of football, serving as fitness boss at Brisbane and then Queensland Roar in the A-League before he was appointed as the Lions’ AFLW coach in June 2016. Has taken the team to two Grand Finals.
CARLTON
DANIEL HARFORD
Played 162 AFL games at Hawthorn and Carlton before turning his hand to coaching. Had a fruitful coaching career in the Eastern Football League and VAFA, before serving as an assistant coach at Collingwood’s AFLW team in 2018. He was appointed as Carlton’s head coach in April 2018, and took the team to the Grand Final in his first season at the helm.
COLLINGWOOD
STEVE SYMONDS
Has a strong coaching background in the SANFL, having established Norwood’s women’s football program in 2017 and winning the 2017 premiership. He was awarded South Australia’s Team Coach of the Year that year, and was appointed as Collingwood’s AFLW coach in June 2019.
FREMANTLE
TRENT COOPER
A former WAFL player and current school teacher, Cooper was appointed at the Dockers in 2018 as replacement for inaugural coach Michelle Cowan. The team was undefeated in the 2020 AFLW campaign and Cooper was awarded the AFL Coaches Association Coach of the Year award.
GEELONG
PAUL HOOD
Inaugural AFL Women’s coach at Geelong, Hood — who previously coached Geelong’s Falcons and VFL team — had coached the Cats’ VFL Women’s outfit since 2017.
GOLD COAST
DAVID LAKE
Has coached in Queensland for a number of years, and served alongside Starcevich as an assistant coach at the Lions before he was appointed as the Suns’ inaugural AFLW coach in 2019.
GREATER WESTERN SYDNEY
ALAN McCONNELL
The most experienced coach in AFL Women’s, McConnell served as caretaker coach at Fitzroy during the 90s, before developing a strong coaching CV at Geelong, the AIS and Greater Western Sydney. He was the first coach to work across both men’s and women’s programs when the Giants’ AFLW program was set up, in place as the Giants’ director of coaching.
MELBOURNE
MICK STINEAR
A former rookie player, Stinear built his coaching resume at TAC Cup level, winning back-to-back premierships with the Oakleigh Chargers in 2014 and 2015. Has coached the Demons since the competition’s inception at the start of 2017, and worked as a men’s development coach.
NORTH MELBOURNE
DARREN CROCKER
Was appointed to the AFL Women’s job in June, replacing long-time women’s coach Scott Gowans in the role despite the club’s stellar record. Crocker, who has recently served as a men’s assistant coach and AFL scout, will split his duties.
RICHMOND
RYAN FERGUSON
Announced by Richmond as the Tigers’ new coach after months without a leader. A former player, he will transition from the men’s program having been at Punt Road since 2016.
ST KILDA
PETA SEARLE
A stalwart of women’s football in Victoria, Searle is arguably the state’s most experienced and successful women’s coach. She coached Darebin to five premierships and was part of the Saints’ men’s coaching program before being announced as the team’s inaugural women’s coach ahead of the 2020 season. Recently signed on for 2021.
WEST COAST
DANIEL PRATT
The former Kangaroos player was recently announced as the Eagles’ new AFLW coach after inaugural coach Luke Dwyer stepped away after just one season. Pratt has served as a men’s assistant coach at the Eagles since 2014, but has never coached his own team.
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WESTERN BULLDOGS
NATHAN BURKE
The St Kilda legend was named as the Dogs’ new coach in 2019 after inaugural coach Paul Groves moved on. He had a history in coaching women’s football having led the Vic Metro girls team in recent years.
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