WA Football Commission

Cowan appointed as 2015 State Opens Head CoachWednesday, December 10, 2014 - 10:49 AM

Experienced coach Michelle Cowan has been appointed to lead Western Australia's State Open Women’s team in 2015 after successfully leading the State U18 Youth Girls to a National Championship in 2014.

Cowan, who helped create history when the WA Youth Girls became the first team ever to defeat Victoria at the National Championships, was also involved in the 2014 AFL Women’s Exhibition match, leading the Melbourne Football Club to victory against the Western Bulldogs.

Her impressive coaching resume also includes being the first female in Australia to coach at a State League level when she joined West Perth Football Club alongside former Carlton and West Coast Eagles Assistant Coach Darren Harris in 2004.

Cowan has also served as an Assistant Coach at South Fremantle Football Club and was the founder of the annual Dean Cox Football Camp for kids aged 5-15 years in 2006.

She has also been a mentor coach for the AFL High Performance Academy for youth girls based in Melbourne and was part of the inaugural International tour for the Australian girls team ‘The Breeze’ to New Zealand in 2013.

In recognition of her achievements, Cowan was awarded the 2013 Football Woman of the Year Award

Cowan said she was looking forward to leading the State Women's team into this year's game against Victoria at Patersons Stadium on Friday, June 5 as a curtain-raiser to the Fremantle vs Richmond AFL game.  

“I’m really excited to have the best females in the state showcase their talent on home soil and work with the elite WA coaches,” she said.

WAFC Female Talent Manager Alison Moore congratulated Cowan on her appointment and said she would be well supported by an experienced group of assistant coaches.

"It will be an outstanding support team consisting of Nicole Graves, Martine Pearman and James Sellar," Moore said.

"Nicole is a current Level 3 coach and WAWFL premiership Coach with Swan Districts FC, Martine was Assistant Coach for Melbourne FC for the Women’s Exhibition game and part of the successful U18 Youth Girls National Championship win, and James Sellar is a recently recruited playing Development Coach with South Fremantle FC and ex-AFL player with Melbourne FC and Adelaide FC."

A new Head Coach has also been appointed for WA's State U18 Youth Girls in Clint Degebrodt.

Degebrodt has previously worked for the WAFC and V Swans in the North West setting up the NW Talent Academy and coordinating both male and female local football. He has coached numerous state teams as both head Coach and Assistant Coach in both male and female programs.

Degebrodt said he was looking forward to working with keen young footballers and following on from the recent success of the State 16’s and U18 teams.

"It’s really exciting to be involved in this State program and I’m looking forward to some great results in 2015,” he said.

Degebrodt will be supported by; Mark Fenton (Women’s Reserves Coach Peel Thunderbirds and previous Head Coach of Peel Thunderbirds Youth Girls, Emily Johnston (Claremont District 2014 Youth Girls Champion Coach) and Matthew Templeton (Peel Thunder Assistant Coach and current Head Coach of the SW/Peel Female Football Talent Academy).

In 2015 the U18 Youth Girls will attempt to win back to back National Championships. They will have a great opportunity with the event to be played at Bendigo Bank Stadium in May 2015.

Congratulations also to Caitlyn Edwards who has accepted an Assistant Coach role with the State 16 Schoolgirls in 2015 to travel to Geelong in July.

Edwards played with the U18 Youth Girls team for the last four years, was named All Australian, has been Head Coach of the East Fremantle Youth Girls team for the last two years and played in the recent Women’s Exhibition match representing Western Bulldogs FC. She brings a wealth of knowledge to share with all the younger players.

The 2015 full coaching teams include;

Open Women

Head Coach – Michelle Cowan
Assistant Coaches – Martine Pearman, Nicole Graves, James Sellar
Team Manager – Janet Seth
Physio – Ghislene Goh  
Strength and Conditioning Coach - Rob Kennedy

U18YG

Head Coach – Clint Degebrodt
Assistant Coaches – Emily Johnston, Matthew Templeton, Mark Fenton
Team Manager – Janet Seth
Physios – Ghislene Goh + Philipa Seth
Strength and Conditioning Coach – Thor Amundson