Fremantle nabs ex-Melbourne coach Michelle Cowan for inaugural national women’s league

THE lure of coaching a team in her home state has enabled Fremantle to poach Melbourne coach Michelle Cowan for next year’s inaugural national women’s league.

Michelle Cowan has left Melbourne to become Fremantle’s women’s coach.

THE lure of coaching a team in her home state has enabled Fremantle to poach Melbourne coach Michelle Cowan for next year’s inaugural national women’s league.

Fremantle confirmed the appointment on Monday after Cowan left the Demons earlier this month to remain in Perth full-time.

Cowan, who has coached Melbourne’s women’s team since 2013, had been commuting to Melbourne from Perth after joining the Demons’ coaching panel earlier this year.

“I’m excited to be a part of this football club and moving forward with the national women’s league. It’s a really exciting time for the AFL,” Cowan told the club’s website.

“Women have been playing the game for over 100 years now and it’s great that we now have a complete pathway and girls get the opportunity to represent an AFL club.

“It’s a big thing, and I’m really grateful for (AFL chief executive) Gillon McLachlan’s leadership on this and making it happen sooner rather than later.”

The Dockers are the third club to announce their women’s coach after Carlton signed up Damien Keeping and Brisbane named Collingwood premiership player Craig Starcevich.

Originally published as Fremantle nabs ex-Melbourne coach Michelle Cowan for inaugural national women’s league