AFLW 2024: North Melbourne coach Darren Crocker wins AFLCA gong

Coaches have had their say on who the best performing AFLW boss was this season – in an early grand final week victory for one mentor.

North Melbourne AFLW coach Darren Crocker has gained an early grand final week victory over his Brisbane rival after his peers crowned him Senior Coach of the Year on Wednesday.

Crocker won his maiden AFL Coaches Association top gong ahead of three-time winner and Brisbane mentor Craig Starcevich after steering the Roos into the Grand Final with a remarkable 13-game unbeaten run.

The former Kangaroos premiership player and AFL caretaker coach, who took the reins of the AFLW program in 2021, said his award had “everyone in our program’s fingerprints on it”.

Thank you to our whole program and thank you to the other coaches and AFL Coaches Association for the recognition,” Crocker said.

Newly crowned AFLCA Senior Coach of the Year Darren Crocker took North Melbourne through its strides during Wednesday’s main training session ahead of the AFLW Grand Final on Saturday night. Picture: Morgan Hancock / Getty Images

AFLCA chief executive Alistair Nicholson congratulated the Kangaroos coach on his season after helping his side bounce back from grand final heartbreak at the hands of the Lions 12 months ago.

“What a great season for Crock and a wonderful recognition of his coaching performances,” Nicholson said.

“Crock is always looking to improve himself and his team, and for the second year has got his team to the AFLW Grand Final.

“I applaud him and his coaching team for their season and being recognised by his peers with this award.”

’Enormous confidence’: Kearney allays any hamstring fears

Crocker was in his usual hands-on role during the Kangaroos’ main training session on Wednesday as skipper Emma Kearney cast an energetic figure following her carefully managed return in the preliminary final win.

The eight-time All-Australian played 49 per cent game time over the first three quarters before sitting out the entire final term, but said her time on the field had given her “enormous confidence” following eight weeks out with a torn hamstring.

“My plan going into the game was to play about 50 per cent just to ease me back,” Kearney said.

“With the game looking pretty comfortable, they just pulled me (off the ground). There was no point risking anything – clearly a bigger game to worry about.

“It was just pleasing to get through and get a little bit more confidence in the body, because I had a few little issues with my body during the rehab, which probably left a bit of doubt at times.”

North Melbourne skipper Emma Kearney is feeling fresh after playing only 38 per cent game time in her return from a serious hamstring injury in the preliminary final. Picture: Morgan Hancock / Getty Images

High-intensity efforts early in the clash had helped ease some of those doubts for the 35-year-old defender, including a passage which involved a similar motion to when she tore her hamstring in Tasmania during the condensed part of the fixture.

“Tess Craven gathered a ball on the wing and handballed it out to me, I had to kick it along the ground and I was going at speed,” Kearney said.

“That was probably my biggest test, because the mechanism of when I did my hammy, I actually kicked the ball off the ground and that’s when it pulled against Richmond.

“There was a bit of doubt in my mind in that moment as I went to do the same thing, but there were a few tests in the game where I was at speed, and to be able to get through gives me enormous confidence coming into the game.”

Jenna Bruton had treatment for a back issue during the Kangaroos’ training session, but returned to the track and said she would be fine for the Grand Final. Picture: Morgan Hancock / Getty Images

Craven trained lightly as she managed a jarred back following a heavy marking contest collision in the second quarter of the preliminary final, while Jenna Bruton came off the field for attention from a physio but said she had no concerns going into the decider.

“I had a bit of a sore back ... it just happens, and also with my hamstrings, just managing that ... but I’m all good and will be right to go for Saturday,” Bruton said.

The 29-year-old ruptured her achilles in the early stages of last year’s grand final, but was back by round 2 this season as she was rested for one game during the condensed period and the Gold Coast clash on the eve of the finals.

“I haven’t trained as much this season, I’ve been taking it pretty easy when I’m sore,” the Roos’ inaugural best and fairest winner said.

“But the management of it has worked really well. I’ve been so grateful to get back.”