Afl - w 2024

[Hotdog60]

Why you may have seen AFLW players hit the training track lately

It's a long off-season for AFLW players, but some are hitting the training track already



SEEN a few pics on social media of AFLW players in training?

We may be well into the off-season ? the Brisbane Lions having won the flag two months ago ? but a number of clubs are facilitating optional, once-a-week run-throughs.

The AFLW pre-season is likely to once again begin in late May, meaning a seven-month off-season for teams who didn't make finals.

In order to help build connection among new teammates and break up the monotony of solo running for fitness maintenance, clubs have previously run these voluntary sessions.

This year is the first time AFLW players are on 12-month contracts, acknowledging the fitness and strength work that goes into the off-season.

Fremantle held a combined AFL/W running session over the hills at Kings Park over the weekend.

Fresh West Coast coach Daisy Pearce has already hit the track with her new charges, working closely with young gun Ella Roberts.

Select Essendon players hit the track at the Hanger for the first time on Tuesday, with some Geelong players having a kick around on GMHBA Stadium.

Richmond players were also spotted watching on at the men's match simulation on Wednesday.
LINK

There are some Instagram links through the article.

If other clubs are shopping early are we going to be behind the eight ball again in regards to fitness and skill work.

[ledge]

Why you may have seen AFLW players hit the training track lately

It's a long off-season for AFLW players, but some are hitting the training track already



SEEN a few pics on social media of AFLW players in training?

We may be well into the off-season ? the Brisbane Lions having won the flag two months ago ? but a number of clubs are facilitating optional, once-a-week run-throughs.

The AFLW pre-season is likely to once again begin in late May, meaning a seven-month off-season for teams who didn't make finals.

In order to help build connection among new teammates and break up the monotony of solo running for fitness maintenance, clubs have previously run these voluntary sessions.

This year is the first time AFLW players are on 12-month contracts, acknowledging the fitness and strength work that goes into the off-season.

Fremantle held a combined AFL/W running session over the hills at Kings Park over the weekend.

Fresh West Coast coach Daisy Pearce has already hit the track with her new charges, working closely with young gun Ella Roberts.

Select Essendon players hit the track at the Hanger for the first time on Tuesday, with some Geelong players having a kick around on GMHBA Stadium.

Richmond players were also spotted watching on at the men's match simulation on Wednesday.
LINK

There are some Instagram links through the article.

If other clubs are shopping early are we going to be behind the eight ball again in regards to fitness and skill work.

And no coach yet .

[Axe Man]

Dogs begin hunt for new head of women's footy

A recent review of the Western Bulldogs found the need for a women's footy boss, with the search already underway

THE SEARCH is underway for the Western Bulldogs' next head of women's football.

The Dogs have not had a designated AFLW boss since the departure of Debbie Lee in 2022 and a recent review highlighted the need for a general manager of women's football to be appointed.

The role will have operational responsibility for the women's program - including both AFLW and VFLW - and report into executive director of football Chris Grant, who will continue to have oversight of the women's program.

Applications for the role closed last week, with the Dogs' selection panel looking for a candidate with leadership experience and previous management of AFL or AFLW programs. A passion for and commitment to women's football is also a high priority.

Lee previously held the position from 2017 to 2022, with the Bulldogs winning the AFLW premiership in the first season of her reign.

She left the Bulldogs to take up a role with the AFL, and while key parts of the job have been absorbed by other roles, there has not been a designated head of women's football at the club.

The club is also searching for a new AFLW coach after Nathan Burke was sacked at the end of the 2023 season.

[mjp]

Surely we select a Head of Footy, then the Head of Footy is the key person involved in choosing the new coach....

And surely we could like, get a move on?

[Axe Man]

If anybody is watching the current series of Survivor I believe that Kirby was formerly our VFLW coach. Nathan Freeman (St Kilda & Collingwood) also on there.

[GVGjr]

Someone I was talking to yesterday at training said that Chris Grant indicated our AFLW coach will be announced early next week.
I don't know who it will be though.

[bornadog]

Someone I was talking to yesterday at training said that Chris Grant indicated our AFLW coach will be announced early next week.
I don't know who it will be though.

Ameet said the same in that article posted up.

[ledge]

Someone I was talking to yesterday at training said that Chris Grant indicated our AFLW coach will be announced early next week.
I don't know who it will be though.

Laidley was mentioned as one who was being looked at and a woman but can’t remember who it was.

[Axe Man]

Bulldogs appoint Tamara Hyett as AFLW head coach

The Western Bulldogs are delighted to announce the appointment of Tamara Hyett as AFLW senior coach.

Hyett, a former professional golfer, has spent the last four seasons serving as an assistant coach of Melbourne?s AFLW team, building a wealth of knowledge and experience within the competition and playing a key role in the Demons? premiership-winning campaign in 2022.

Prior to this, she was head coach of the Sandringham Dragons Girls team for three years. 

Hyett was also a recipient of the AFLCA women?s coaching pathway scholarship in 2022.

?We?re thrilled to welcome Tamara to the red, white and blue as our AFLW senior coach,? said Chris Grant, Bulldogs Executive Director of Football.

?Tamara has a wealth of knowledge and coaching experience, particularly in women?s football, as well as a lived understanding of what it takes to be a professional athlete.

?Leading one of the competition?s best backlines at Melbourne and being involved in a successful AFLW program over a long period puts Tamara in good stead to take this team forward and guide the improvement of a talented bunch of women.

?We can?t wait to see Tamara make this program her own.?

Bulldogs CEO Ameet Bains echoed Grant?s sentiments as Hyett prepares to take the helm of the AFLW team ahead of the 2024 season.

?We?re extremely excited to have someone of Tamara?s calibre join our Club,? Bains said.

?Throughout the recruitment process, Tamara impressed us with her leadership capabilities and the clear articulation of her coaching philosophy and ambitions for our women?s program.

?Her unique blend of experience within both elite girls and elite women?s football lends itself to Tamara building a high-performing culture that develops and grows the exciting young players on our list.

?We are thrilled to be making this appointment for our AFLW program as we strive for consistent performance and sustained success on field.?

Hyett said she was thankful for the opportunity, and can?t wait to lead the Club?s next chapter.

?It?s a really proud moment ? driving in here I was thinking about the last six years and being a western suburbs girl myself, I?m just extremely proud,? she said.

?This is a foundation club who were supporting women?s football even prior to AFLW. It?s not lost on me how special that is.

?There?s some really exciting talent here and it?s really refreshing too. I?m just really excited about the current group.

?The upcoming season is unwritten, and it?s all unknown ? that?s what is really exciting. We can shape our own narrative.?

Hyett becomes the third senior coach in the AFLW side?s history, and one of five female head coaches across the league.

[jazzadogs]

Despite knowing nothing about Hyett beyond what's in that article, I am feeling buoyed by this appointment. Her involvement with the demons program is a huge positive.

Good luck Coach.

[GVGjr]

Really happy with this appointment and lets hope they can put some excellent support around her.

[josie]

Congrats to Tamara Hyett.

If Tamara helps us win another premiership I?ll be singing (fr Annie); Tamara, Tamara we luv ya Tamara.

[bornadog]

Congrats and best wishes to Tamara

[Can Bar]

Happy with the appointment, she will bring the IP from a successful team, we need to steer our youthful girls going forward.

[Axe Man]

How Bulldogs' new coach can turn things around

After an off-season of significant player turnover, the Western Bulldogs have the chance to build something from the ground up under new coach Tamara Hyett

THE WESTERN Bulldogs hit a low point in 2023.

Bottom of the ladder, a one-win season, and opting to part ways with coach Nathan Burke.

But now it's time to reset under new coach Tamara Hyett.

The former Melbourne AFLW assistant coach was announced as the Bulldogs' new mentor on Friday, joining Sam Wright at Collingwood, Daniel Webster at Hawthorn and women's footy pioneer Daisy Pearce at West Coast as new coaches for the 2024 season.

After eight seasons cycling talent in and out of the program in a way that clearly hasn't worked, this year the Bulldogs have a chance to build something from the ground up.

The club enters 2024 with the third-youngest average list in the competition, at just 23 years, 317 days, and the sixth-least experienced list averaging 24.4 games.

This comes off the back of significant player turnover in recent months. A third of the list left the club over the off-season, with that group boasting 424 games and 126 goals between them.

The 11 players who have since been welcomed to the red, white, and blue, have played a collective 162 games, and includes four teenagers yet to make their AFLW debut.

Such significant change to the playing list isn't a new experience for the Bulldogs, with the club retaining just one inaugural player ? Ellie Blackburn ? the fewest of any side across the AFLW.

Many have pointed to multiple phases of expansion for much of that unwanted turnover, although that doesn't tell the full story.

Twelve Bulldogs have moved to other clubs via expansion rules, the same number as Fremantle, and four fewer than reigning premier Brisbane, which has lost 16 players to expansion since the competition began.

Bulldogs players lost to expansion



Recent AFLW Best and Fairest winner Monique Conti also left the club during the 2020 expansion phase, although via trade, handing the Dogs the No.1 pick which was ultimately used on Gabrielle Newton.

Amidst all this movement, the Bulldogs have taken more top-10 selections to the draft than any other side with 12 top-10 draft picks landing at the Dogs, and just six ? including three from the 2023 draft ? remain.

Top-10 Bulldogs



What the Western Bulldogs haven't been able to do consistently is develop and retain top-end talent in a way that allows them to build momentum over time. This is a key area for Hyett to focus on improving should the club rise up the ranks.

Another area that the Dogs have struggled with is keeping its best players on the park.

Throughout last season the Bulldogs had the largest injury list across the competition in five of the 10 home and away rounds, including lists of 11, 11, and 12 in the final three weeks.

While injuries are an unfortunate inevitability in footy, poor player availability has plagued the Dogs for three seasons, with limited numbers available even for pre-season sessions in that time.

Ensuring players are in the best physical shape possible coming into the 2024 season will surely be another focal point for Hyett, lifting professional standards. This will be aided by last year's Collective Bargaining Agreement, which made all AFLW player contracts year-round for the first time.

Of course, all of this must come with support from the club's administration, which is yet to officially replace its general manager of women's football after Debbie Lee departed in early 2022.

Despite it all, there is still plenty of potential at the club. It will just be about harnessing it all and starting to move in a positive direction once more.