Nicole Graves has been revealed as the Coolangatta Bluebirds head QAFLW coach
The Coolangatta Bluebirds have signed one of women’s footballs most respected figures as their QAFLW head coach for 2020 and 2021 as the club looks to return to finals action.
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THE Coolangatta Bluebirds have signed one of women’s footballs most respected figures as their QAFLW head coach for 2020 and 2021 as the club looks to return to finals action.
COACH HUNT COMMENCES FOR DEMONETTES DIVISION ONE DREAM
Former Carlton AFLW General Manager of Women’s Football Nicole Graves will take up the head job after 2019 head coach Matt Bedford accepted an assistant coaching position at the Gold Coast Suns alongside David Lake.
The former VFLW Darebin Falcons star spent time on the Gold Coast earlier this year at the Bluebirds in a six week block which she said ultimately reignited her passion for coaching.
“It reignited that passion to coach again,” she said.
“Coaching wasn’t part of my role at Carlton because I was so busy with my executive position but now I’m exactly where I want to be.
“I was inspired by the talent up here and what we’re trying to do at Coolangatta.”
Graves coaching resume also boasts back to back premierships with the Swan Districts WAFLW side, mentoring the women’s AFL International Rules team as well as coaching the Western Bulldogs in an AFL Women’s exhibition match where she crossed paths with now good friend and Bluebird Leah Kaslar.
THE SIGN BUDARICK IS HERE FOR THE LONG RUN
Four female coaches will support Graves in the coaches box in 2020, including experienced Northern Rivers mentor Sally Carter and Beford who will remain with the team as an assistant coach.
For Graves, her appointment will allow her to experience football through a different lens after spending much of her football career in traditional Aussie rules states.
“Queensland and New South Wales girls are already athletes,” she said.
“They already have so many attributes but it’s about tweaking them to understand how football works and how we move the ball.
“We’ve got some really good plans in place about our facilities and the culture we want to set in place.
“I can’t wait to get started.”
Graves hopes that the signings of Coolangatta products Selina Priest and Georgia Breward to the Lions and Suns AFLW lists at the draft last week will kickstart a production line of Bluebirds talent to make their way onto the national stage.
“We want to set up a system where we can make these girls AFLW ready so they’re ready to take on the rigours of the national league,” she said.
“My strength is that I’ve been involved in an AFLW program and know what it takes to get there but we also don’t want to replicate that entirely at club level because not all but I’d say most of our QAFLW girls if you asked them have the aim of making the AFLW.”
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