Bluebirds land big name boss
COOLANGATTA have signed one of women’s football’s most respected figures as their QAFLW head coach for 2020 and 2021 as the club looks to return to finals action.
Former Carlton AFLW general manager of women’s football Nicole Graves will take the job after 2019 coach Matt Bedford accepted an assistant position at the Suns alongside David Lake.
The former VFLW Darebin Falcons star spent time on the Gold Coast earlier this year at the Bluebirds in a six-week block which she said ultimately reignited her passion for coaching.
“It reignited that passion to coach again,” she said.
“Coaching wasn’t part of my role at Carlton because I was so busy with my executive position but now I’m exactly where I want to be.
“I was inspired by the talent up here and what we’re trying to do at Coolangatta.”
Graves’ coaching resume also boasts back-to-back flags with the Swan Districts WAFLW side, mentoring the women’s AFL international rules team as well as coaching the Western Bulldogs in an AFL Women’s exhibition match where she crossed paths with now good friend and Bluebird Leah Kaslar.
Four female coaches will support Graves in the coaches’ box in 2020, including experienced Northern Rivers mentor Sally Carter and Bedford who will remain as an assistant.
For Graves, her appointment will allow her to experience football through a different lens after spending much of her career in traditional Aussie rules states.
Graves hopes that the signings of Coolangatta products Selina Priest and Georgia Breward to the Lions and Suns AFLW lists at the draft last week will kickstart a production line of Bluebirds talent to make their way onto the national stage.