By Alice Barker
AFL Queensland is pleased to announce the remaining coaching panel for the State Female Academy Program.
The group will round out the coaching appointments for the Queensland Female Talent Pathway following the announcement of head coach James Gellis earlier this month.
Together, the group will prepare the team for the NAB Under18 AFL Women’s National Championships, which will be held on the Gold Coast later this year.
This coaching group consists of Ashleigh Hales, Jarrod Wells, Phil Lovett (Assistant Coaches), Josh Hall (High Performance Manager), Chelsea Carpenter (Well-Being Manager), Sam Virgo (Runner) Tim Amos (Doctor) and Hayley Gosman (Physio).
AFL Queensland State Female Talent Manager Kath Newman said the group will be able will benefit the growth and development of the players emerging through the talent pathway.
“We have assembled a team of coaches and support staff that will provide a high-performance environment for the players in the State AFLW Academy,” Newman told aflq.com.au.
“The inclusion of dedicated High Performance and Well-Being managers in the program will ensure the girls are being looked after both physically and mentally in a high-pressure environment.
“I feel confident we have the people in place to ensure the team is well prepared for the National Championships and lay a good foundation for those girls who progress to the AFLW and QAFLW in the future.”
Among the new-look coaching group is Phil Lovett, who coached the University of Queensland QAFLW teams for several years and in 2018, led them to a Preliminary Finals berth.
Lovett joins Brisbane Lions Under 18 Girls Assistant Coach Ashleigh Hales and Gold Coast Suns Female Academy U18 Assistant Coach Jarrod Wells as Assistant Coaches in the group.
Brisbane Lions AFLW player and Yeronga QAFLW Development Coach, Sam Virgo, will be the team’s runner and will be able to offer her expertise having played at the top level.
Physiotherapist Hayley Gosman, who is involved with the successful Palm Beach Currumbin QAFL program, psychologist Chelsea Carpenter and high performance manager Josh Hall will help ensure the Queensland team is prepared both physically and mentally.
