A group of budding coaches gained invaluable experience in Essendon’s AFLW program this month.
Essendon VFLW assistant coaches Kate Salemme, Anthony Woodcock and Michael Licciardo, as well as former AFLW star Sarah Perkins and current Calder Cannons Girls Coach Nicola Tenabel all had the opportunity to spend a week within the inner sanctum of our AFLW pre-season, receiving insights into the day-to-day workings of the football department.
The coaching immersion helped strengthen connections between the club’s internal football programs (between AFLW and VFLW) and its pathway affiliate in the Cannons.
Having stepped into their VFLW assistant roles just this year, Salemme, Woodcock and Licciardo all further established their integration into the club by delving into observations and interactions that enabled them to deepen their knowledge with preparation of AFLW main training and craft sessions, video analysis, workshops with wellbeing and IT staff, insights from young AFLW players, as well as reflection sessions with Senior Coach Natalie Wood.
After featuring in her final VFLW campaign as an Essendon player last season, Perkins is currently pursuing her coaching ambitions, while Tenabel continues to gain experience following successful stints with Williamstown and Ascot Vale JFC prior to her Calder appointment.
Wood praised the immersion program for not only boosting career experiences of the emerging coaches but benefitting the club more broadly.
“The coaching immersion program has been a really exciting addition to our pre-season structure,” Wood said.
“We place a very high value on the development of people within our program, and that extends to our VFLW and pathway systems also. To have a group of motivated people come in and learn about the standards we aim to set will hold them in great stead for their coaching futures.
“In the same vein, showcasing to our players and staff that everyone within our program is on a learning journey and that everyone has the capacity to support the growth of others is extremely beneficial. It typifies the type of environment we are working to create.”
“Being about to play an important role in help grow the people within the women’s football space is very important to me. This group of coaches we had in our AFLW Immersion Program across the week are heavily invested in growing and supporting athletes and it was terrific to observe their learning over the sessions.”
“We gained a lot out of offering the experience and we will keep exploring ways to strengthen this program over the years to come.”
The Bombers are on the verge of commencing their third AFLW season, with the opening round fixture against the Dockers set to kick off from Windy Hill on Saturday, August 31.
