MELBOURNE has confirmed its coaching panel for the upcoming AFL Women’s season, with an experienced mix at the helm.
Mick Stinear will lead the Demons’ coaching staff for a ninth season, making him one of the longest serving coaches in the league.
Alongside Stinear will be Shae Sloane (Forwards), Vincent Chungue (Midfield), and Matt Brewer (Backs) as Assistant Coaches.
They will be supported by a larger team, made up of Dale Amos (Skills Acquisition Coach), Justin Crough (Ruck Coach), Sam Batterton (High Performance Manager), Jon Stinear (Development Coach and Runner), Max Viney (Tackling and Grappling Coach), and Ben Brown (Talls Specialist Coach).
Ally Kirkwood and Caitlin Conroy will work as Development Coaches, having joined from the Casey VFLW program.
Jessie Mulholland, who has previously held the role of AFLW Football Operations Manager, was recently announced as Melbourne’s first Head of Women’s Football, while Marcus Wagner will continue in his role of General Manager – AFLW.
After three years on Melbourne's AFLW playing list, Sloane joined the coaching ranks prior to season six.
Sloane’s coaching pathway eventuated after an injury forced her to the sidelines during her playing time, exposing her to an unofficial role within the coaching box and kickstarting the next step within her AFLW journey.
After a strong transition throughout season six, Sloane added to her responsibilities ahead of season seven, being elevated from a development coach to an assistant coach, looking after Melbourne's forward line.
In 2024, Sloane has advanced her position to a full-time role, taking on further responsibilities as Head of Development, working primarily with one-to-three year players.
Chungue began his journey at Melbourne with an internship as a Football Technology Assistant at the end of 2018.
Since then, he has worked in a range of roles including AFLW/VFL Football Analyst and AFLW Strategy Coach.
In 2022, Chungue joined the men’s program as an AFL Analyst, and has balanced his time across both the men’s and women’s programs in the years since.
With experience offering specialist advice to players and assisting in coaching decision-making, he is a trusted member of the AFLW program.
Brewer has a strong affiliation with the development pathways through the club, having joined the Casey Demons VFLW coaching team in 2022.
Earlier this year, he was announced as the VFLW Senior Coach, taking the team from bottom of the ladder in 2023 to eighth position in 2024.
Leading the AFLW midfield group through season seven and 2023, he has now transitioned to an extended role juggling VFLW Senior Coach and AFLW Backline Coach.
His ability to build relationships and connect closely with staff and players has made him a valuable asset to the coaching line-up.
Melbourne has just 57 days until the beginning of the 2024 season, with the Demons to take on Geelong at GMHBA Stadium on Saturday 31 August.
