Could be optics, could be him not being interested, or it could be, and I don’t want to sound too crazy here, that they ran an interview process for a number of applicants and chose the person they thought would perform best in the role?
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Possibly but it’s been mentioned in passing in a few articles that he wasn’t in contention for the role, so he must’ve been ruled out pretty early if that was the case.
Full-time role, both AFLW head and AFL assistant.
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I saw it mentioned somewhere that he would stay as VFLW coach but also have a development role, so maybe his strengths are better suited to bringing up the kids and setting standards/culture
Club’s interview with Natalie at The Hangar today.
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And by “today” we mean 19 days ago.
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Better than those “Fabric” podcasts. They all seem to be about 3 years old from all the references they make.
Marnie Vinall features on our website for the first time below. I don’t think they would have needed to wring her arm too hard to get her to write for us.
By Marnie Vinall - 4 hrs ago
In a significant move towards Essendon’s commitment to ensuring elite medical and wellbeing services are provided to all AFLW players, Lauren Spark has been appointed as a full-time player development manager for the women’s team.
The Western Bulldogs foundation and premiership player will take on the new role, which will include welcoming and inducting new players into the club and promoting their personal development and wellbeing.
Spark is coming across from North Melbourne, where she was in a similar role with the Kangaroos’ AFLW program, and comes with a wealth of teaching experience, including over 14 years in both Australia and the United Kingdom.
She also played with the Western Bulldogs for five years and volleyball at the national level. This experience as an athlete at the top level will especially come in handy in the women’s program, where players have to divide their time between many different facets, including other work commitments.
“My focus is going to be making sure the girls are doing the best they can off field to be able to perform on field,” Spark said.
“So, making sure off field, their work life, social life, mental health and other things are all in check.”
New Bombers Lauren Spark (middle) and Bonnie Toogood (right) celebrate a win with the Bulldogs in 2018. (Photo: AFL Photos)
Spark said she wants to help remove any barriers players may face to stepping on to the field and help them become “well-rounded athletes” and “allow them to thrive”.
The new appointment will see Spark work closely with head of medical services Megan Smith, along with AFL player development manager Chris Byrne and Indigenous player development manager Jacara Egan.
Spark noted Essendon’s commitment to providing paramount staff for all players, including her new role in a full-time capacity, was a main defining feature in her coming across.
“I could really see their investment in the off-field staff and getting that right in the initial stages,” she said.
The new position will not be without its challenges, however, as Spark will have 30 new players to welcome to the club, get to know, induct and set up, all within an extremely short time period. But she said she’s up for the task.
“It’s pretty exciting to get a brand new group of girls together, plus all new staff,” she said.
“I’m looking forward to seeing how everyone works and putting together 30 different personalities into the black and red jumper.
“I know every club wishes for good people that walk into the club, but I’m looking to develop great people.”
Spark will link up at with former teammate Bonnie Toogood at the NEC Hangar, with the pair sharing a premiership with the Bulldogs in 2018.
Toogood joins Carlton’s Maddy Prespakis and Georgia Gee, Fremantle’s Stephanie Cain, Collingwood’s Sophie Alexander, VFLW stars Georgia Nanscawen, Federica Frew, Joanne Doonan, Jordan Zanchetta and Danielle Marshall, and under-age signing Caitlin Sargent, on the Bombers’ inaugural AFLW list.
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Confirmed that Charlotte Miller has been promoted to AFLW and VFLW Operations Manager.
An interesting line in the article - we seem to be on the search for an AFLW coach from the outside, as it appears Major will just be the VFLW and Development Coach.
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Not sure how you came to that conclusion: the coming VFLW season in no way conflicts with our first AFLW season. If he’d been announced for two years, sure…
It’s this line that stands out for me…
"We have had initial discussions with a number of potential coaches within the industry and our process to appoint a senior coach remains ongoing.”
Why stop at poaching players when we can steal some behind the scenes staff from Norf!
2018 Bulldogs AFLW Premiership Player and former staff member (2022) at Norf, Lauren “Loz” Spark (Sparky) joins the greatest ever Aussie Rules club.
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OK, I want razor eyes on this:
- 20 players there?
- I see VFLW-listed players.
- I’m struggling to pick numbers.
- What are those weird sashes, anyway?
- Is that Natasha Hardy? Did I miss an announcement, and did she forget to update her LinkedIn?
On that last one, she was at Windy Hill on Saturday. For you newbies, she played 12 games for us in 2018 as vice-captain, was runner in 2019, has been coaching at Norf.
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I (am happy to) see you, Natasha.
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My first contribution was “Fark Hawthorn, and their whinging fans!”
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Coaching news…
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Well, we got one Noongar…
WESTERN Bulldogs VFLW coach Kirby Bentley has reunited with former coaching colleague Natalie Wood at Essendon.
Bentley, a proud Noongar woman who became the first Indigenous woman to coach at VFLW level, will be an assistant under ex-Doggies assistant Wood at the Bombers.
Joining Bentley is Muthi Muthi/Gunditjmara woman and Vic Metro Under-18 Girls coach Jacara Egan, who will take the role of development coach.
Two former North Melbourne AFLW assistants have also made the switch, with Natasha Hardy (an ex-Essendon VFLW vice-captain) and Brett Gourlay named assistants.
Ex-Roos AFL player Gavin Urquhart – currently a member of the club’s successful VFLW coaching group – will work alongside Egan in a development role.
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My daughter played in the WAFLW with her, and also the State Team at the Aussie titles in Cairns 2013 . A very nice person and her mum as well.
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