GIANTS AFLW captain Alicia Eva has been announced as one of nine successful applicants in the AFL Women’s Coaching Acceleration Program.
As part of the program Eva will be employed by the GIANTS for a minimum two-year period between now and 2025, and involved in a formal mentorship with a senior men’s AFL coach and receive her Level 3 AFL Coaching Accreditation as a minimum.
Coaching is a space that Eva has been involved in for several years. She currently works as the Backline Coach for the GIANTS’ VFL side, a Development Coach for the GIANTS Academy and in June last year became the first female to join the NAB AFL Academy coaching panel and coached the boys AFL Academy team with Tarkyn Lockyer.
AFL General Manager Women’s Football Nicole Livingstone OAM said the committee were impressed with all applications and the club's presentations.
“Pleasingly, all nine senior AFL coaches were not only in attendance, but genuinely spoke about their desire to have women coaching in their AFL programs,” Livingstone said.
"Today's announcement is a major step towards the AFL's Women's Football Vision 2021-2030, where we want to see 50 per cent of AFLW senior coaching positions are held by women.
"In Season Seven, Bec Goddard, Natalie Wood and Lauren Arnell will all hold senior coaching roles. More than half of the coaches selected in the Women's Coaching Acceleration program are past or current AFLW players and with each season we will have more women with experience of playing at the elite level who are ready to transition into coaching and football roles.
"The Women's Coaching Acceleration program will expedite the development of the industry's best women coaches and increase the number of women in coaching roles across men's and women's programs."
The Women’s Coaching Acceleration Program is part of the AFL’s commitment to advancing women in coaching. Other initiatives include The BHP Women’s Coaching Academy and She Can Coach program.
