The Brisbane Lions can confirm the appointment of former Collingwood premiership player and Brisbane Bears player Craig Starcevich as Women’s Coach.
The appointment comes after the Club was granted one of the inaugural licences for the AFL National Women’s League Season set to kick off in 2017, as well their recent appointment of Women’s CEO, Breeanna Brock.
Starcevich brings with him an impressive football resumé, which includes his stint as High Performance Manager for the Brisbane Lions during the triple–premiership era and St Kilda and the Brisbane Roar, State Talent Manager for the Western Australian Football Commission as well as holding a teaching degree.
Women’s CEO Breeanna Brock believes Starcevich is the “perfect storm” of what the Lions need in a women’s coach with his extensive background and experience.
“He’s what we want here at the Lions (not only) in being a great teaching coach, but also in being very highly experienced under pressure and holding that premiership experience,” Brock told lions.com.au.
Most recently, Starcevich coached the Western Bulldogs’ women’s side during the exhibition games this year.
“He’s got a really good idea of our local talent already… And with that good insight into the talent around the country, he can compare what the best of the best are like against our local kids,” said Brock.
“There’s still some development work to be done but with his knowledge of where everybody sits, we’ll be able to get everyone up to speed."
And, in his role as the current Female Football High Performance Coach at AFL Queensland, Starcevich has already formed great relationships with the player’s who will make up “about 90%” of the team – including Brisbane Lions marquee player, Tayla Harris.
“He’s been my state coach for about two years now and I’ve worked with him at AFLQ for awhile so I know him well… We’ve known each other for that long so it’s great,” said Harris.
“He’s had a large involvement in the Club already which just shows his loyalty... He’s relatable and understanding as well, which helps a great deal when we’re playing."
Harris is excited at the prospect of training with the same team she runs out with as the players come together for pre-season in November before the eight-week season kicks off in February 2017.
“I trained once with the team I played with on the weekend,” said Harris.
“So for the first time ever, we get to train together as a group before we play which I think will make everything so much better.
“We can learn each other’s playing style – even how Craig goes about his coaching.”
With an inaugural licence locked in as well as the appointment of a Women’s CEO and their first marquee player in Tayla Harris, the Lions women’s side is shaping up nicely for the season ahead.
“I think the Club has done a really good job being on the front foot, we’re ahead of most other Club’s and having a full time resource here at the Club in myself is going to help drive and accelerate everything that needs to happen,” Brock said.
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