GIANTS join ranks as Rams Youth Girls coaches announced

AFL NSW/ACT is pleased to announce the appointments of the 2019 Under-18 and Under-16 AFL NSW/ACT  Rams Youth Girls coaching panels.

Canberra’s Steve Mahar will head up the Under 18s side this year, assisted by GWS GIANTS AFL Women’s pairing, Alyce Parker and Louise Stephenson.

AFL NSW/ACT Female Talent Manager, Ash Moeller says he is excited to have Mahar at the helm in 2019.

“It is great to have Steve Mahar and his strong footballing pedigree on board as head coach for 2019,” said Moeller.

“Steve has vast coaching and playing experience in Canberra, and will bring a fresh mindset to the Under 18s group in 2019.

“As a past Mulrooney Medallist (ACTAFL Best and Fairest) and Canberra Seniors Men’s coach, the girls will benefit largely from Steve’s calm nature and knowledge of the game.”

Mahar too, is looking forward to taking on the role as head coach.

“It has been a massive growth area for our code, and to work with aspiring and committed young athletes is really motivating for me to create an environment where they can continue their development,” said Mahar.

Louise Stephenson, a foundation member of the GWS GIANTS AFL Women’s side, will also join the Under-18s side as an Assistant Coach with plenty of experience coaching in the Youth Girls space under her belt.

Stephenson has spent the past few years coaching the Eastern Sydney Youth Girls Academy and the New South Wales School Sports side, as well as the past year coaching Abbotsleigh in the AFL Sydney Independent Girls’ Schools competition. Before her move to Sydney from Melbourne, Stephenson also gained experience coaching the Calder Canons Under 18s and Under 16s squads, as well as the Under-18 Victoria Metro and All Australian sides.

“I’m excited to have the opportunity to work with the best Under-18 girls in New South Wales and the ACT, as well as Tasmania [when the two teams combine for the 2019 NAB AFL Women’s Under-18 Championships in July], over the next couple of months.

“There is some really exciting raw talent coming through, along with girls that I have been involved with in the pathway for a number of years – many of whom are working hard to prove themselves leading up to the AFL Women’s Draft in October.”

Last year’s Ram’s captain, Alyce Parker will also be involved with the group as Assistant Coach of both the Under-18 and Under-16 teams. Having only recently graduated from the talent pathway herself, playing in it since she was 15-years-old, Parker’s experience in the Youth Girls space is invaluable.

As the 2018 NAB AFL Women’s Under-18 All-Australian Captain, Parker will also bring leadership experience to share with the squad, of which she is excited to be involved with.

“I am thrilled to be returning to the Rams as an Assistant Coach in 2019,” said Parker.

“Having spent the past three years in Rams colours myself, and then progressing on to the GIANTS, I know the importance of the state program in developing girls to their full football potential.

“It helped me progress far further than what I thought I knew in the early years, and I am glad to be assisting Steve and Lou in moulding the future of female football in our thriving region.”

Mahar says he is looking forward to working with his two new Assistant Coaches.

“To have AFLW players like Lou and Alyce involved is such a bonus for our program. They are both elite players and when we are developing the next generation of AFLW players, what two better role models to have to pass on their knowledge of what it takes at the next level.”

Last year’s Under-18 Youth Girls Head Coach, Alicia Eva – Vice Captain of the GWS GIANTS – will also remain involved with the program, assisting the squad with player well-being.

Joining Parker on the Under-16 Rams side of the pathway, will be Scott Reid as Head Coach. Reid was the Head Coach of the South East Sports Academy in 2018 and is recognised a great influence on the female program at AFL Canberra club, the Belconnen Magpies.

Sydney’s Brent Trewin will assist the Under-16s side as well. With experience as the 2017 GIANTS AFL Women’s development coach as well as the current Under-18 Female Academy coach, Trewin brings many years of female football coaching knowledge and passion to the side.

Steve Miller has also been named as an Assistant Coach of the Under-16 Rams. As the current Head Coach of the South East Sports Academy, Miller was also involved in the Under 16s program in 2018 and brings his commitment to the development of young female footballers to the group.

Both the Under-18 and Under-16 AFL NSW/ACT Rams Youth Girls 2019 squads are set to be announced next week.

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