Natalie Grindal living the dream after scoring Northern Knights’ NAB League talent manager role
Northern Knights talent operations lead Natalie Grindal is living the dream after scoring the newly created role and is looking forward to continuing the NAB League club’s rich draft history.
Local Footy
Don't miss out on the headlines from Local Footy. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Northern Knights talent manager Natalie Grindal says it’s a dream come true to earn the newly created full-time role.
The “regional talent operations lead” will oversee the day-to-day running of the boys and girls program at each NAB League club, something Grindal has been working towards for 10 years.
Starting out as a strength and conditioning intern at Calder Cannons, then coach and high-performance manager with Vic Metro, Grindal has 10 years of experience in development programs and eight years of teaching behind her.
TOP 20: BEST NORTHERN KNIGHTS DRAFT TALENTS SINCE 1993
LEADER: GET YOUR NAB LEAGUE FOOTY NEWS HERE
JOBS: NEW COACHES, MANAGERS FOR NAB LEAGUE CLUBS
She steps into the combined role having led the Knights’ girls program for the past 12 months.
“My passion for football was my driving force,” Grindal said of her decision to apply.
“I had a decision to make 12 months ago when the female talent manager position came up, I stepped away from full-time teaching to pursue that.
“My dream has been to work in footy full-time, so when the opportunity came up there was no hesitation in putting my hand up.
“I’ve worked in boys and girls football for 10 years, but a lot of that in volunteer positions, so to have a full-time position is something I’m really excited about.
“I’m very excited by the opportunity to help develop young footballers in the northern region to achieve their highest potential.”
Under the NAB League restructure, the boys and girls programs will now be overseen by one talent manager and one coach.
Leigh Clarke, who was previously boys coach at Oakleigh Chargers, has been named Knights coach for 2021.
Having worked closely with girls premiership coach Marcus Abney-Hastings, Grindall thanked him for his work and was looking forward to working with Clarke.
“Marcus has been an incredible coach, someone I had the pleasure of working with outside of coaching as well – we both taught at the same school,” she said.
“He’s been a huge contributor and driver of the success of our girls program over the last three years.
“I’m also really excited by the opportunity to work with and learn from someone new, I’ve heard great things about Leigh and he’s got an impressive resume.”
Boasting a rich draft history, the Knights will look to add to that legacy this year with nine players invited to the Victorian draft combine.
Western Bulldogs father-son prospect Ewan Macpherson, likely first-round pick Nik Cox, Liam McMahon and Liam Kolar will hope to hear there names called out later this year.
Ellie McKenzie and Alyssa Bannan are considering pick No.1 contenders while Ashleigh Snow, Jessica Fitzgerald and Maeve Chaplin are also likely top picks in October’s AFLW draft.