Essendon welcomed coaches from the Tiwi Bombers football program to the NEC Hangar for their Tiwi Coaching Exchange through the month of May.

Tiwi Bombers Women’s Coach Leonie (Lilly) Carpenter and Aunty Mary Dunn were able to work closely with AFLW Senior Coach Natalie Wood and AFL Assistant Coach Daniel Giansiracusa over the course of a week, shadowing training sessions and seeing the inner day-to-day workings of our football department.

The program has been run in collaboration with Coles, whose support of the club’s initiatives in the Tiwi Islands has been integral over the past five years, providing opportunities in the health and nutrition space for the community.

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Tiwi coaches exchange

Tiwi Bombers coaches joined Essendon Bombers coaches for a week of learning all thanks to Coles.

The two-way exchange has strengthened Essendon’s long-standing relationship with football programs in the NT, following on from the club’s VFL and VFLW squads venturing north for practice games and community activations in February this year.

While the Tiwi Coaches acquired skills in talent identification and high performance, Essendon’s football staff also gained an understanding of how to better resource and support Indigenous players transitioning into an AFL environment.

"It's the collaboration around what hopefully they can learn from us, but more importantly what we can learn going back the other way," Giansiracusa said.

"The club's had a proud history with that connection (to Tiwi), and without Coles' support and help, it doesn't happen."

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Inside Bombers' special Tiwi trip

See a snapshot of a rewarding week in the Northern Territory.

With women’s football participation rates surging in the NT, the Tiwi Coaches’ immersion in Essendon’s AFLW program will help to develop the next generation of male and female footballers in the community.

Essendon Strategy and Growth Lead Kristen Bull praised the long-term benefits of the programs.

“The Tiwi Coaches Exchange Program provides fantastic learnings for both parties,” Bull said.

“From a football and performance perspective, Lilly and Mary can channel so much of what they’ve learned into the Tiwi football programs and make a real difference in boosting their own teams.

“Having them both involved in our football department has given us a first-hand look at how we can continue to support our community and pathways programs and we’ve taken a lot away from the experience. 

“Coles’ support of our First Nations programs has been immense. They’re playing a massive part in helping both us and the Tiwi Bombers, helping to deliver positive community outcomes.”