NSW/ACT appoint state coaches

Newly appointed NSW and ACT coaches Tracey Kick and Adrian Pavese will be looking to take female football to whole new level in 2011.

Kick and Pavese have been given the reigns of the NSW and ACT state teams respectively that will travel to Adelaide for the 2011 AFL Women’s National Championships being held from June 7 to 11.

With over 23 years of coaching experience and a handful of premierships between them, the two coaches plan to put NSW/ACT footy on the map through a fresh, new innovative coaching approach.

Kick, who coached the undefeated Balmain Dockers to the Sydney Women’s AFL Grand Final last year, said she’s hoping all players take full advantage of the opportunity.

“As coach, what I want to get out of the nationals this year is a strong performance by NSW and an opportunity to showcase our best players which historically hasn’t been what we’ve been able to do,” Kick said.

“I want to pull together a team that will gel, play well and enjoy the experience of representing their state.

“AFL NSW/ACT provided us with a manager and I’ve selected David Yole as my assistant coach and together, with some support from the AFL, we’ll do the very best preparation we can do and give the girls every opportunity we can to be competitive.”

Women’s AFL in the state and territory is on the rise with a number of Youth Girls leagues and Recreational Football teams being established.

The appointment of Kick, who won the SWAFL coach of the year award in 2010, and Pavese, who has led the Queanbeyan reserves to the last three grand finals in the AFL Canberra Division 2 Competition, will provide NSW and ACT players with a wealth of knowledge and experience.

For Pavese, he jumped on the opportunity to coach the ACT team from a development and experience point of view.

“As a coach, you’re always looking at ways to reinvent yourself, so to represent your league at any level is an honour,” Pavese said.

“When the position became available I certainly thought I could bring a new dynamic to women’s football in Canberra.”

While NSW and the ACT will come up against one another in division two of the championships, both coaches believe the experience for all players will help increase the number of participants in the state and territory.

Pavese said he is hoping his experience coaching the ACT representative side, being involved in the NSW/ACT RAMS program and his time in the Northern Riverina League will benefit the players.

“What I’m hoping to bring to the table is just that men’s prespective, a few ideas that might improve the girls’ football,” he said.

“We’re all the same sport but if there’s something I can bring to the table from the men’s side of things that make women’s football a little bit more competitive and enjoyable to play than that’s my job I think.

“It’s a different perspective and hopefully that creates interest within the women’s leagues to say well here’s a guy that’s come on board with women’s footy with 20 years experience and trying to offer some knowledge – hopefully that will inspire some other people to get involved in the sport.”

All of the news and results from the National Championships will be available at www.aflnswact.com.au.

For more information or to play AFL in 2011 visit www.playafl.com.au or call 8333 8000.