The AFL wishes to advise Brisbane Lions Head of Women’s Football Breeanna Brock and West Coast Eagles AFLW Operations and Wellbeing Manager Michelle Cowan will join the AFL Women’s Competition Committee ahead of its third meeting for 2021 today, Wednesday July 14.
Breeanna Brock started her football career with AFLNT as the Darwin Regional Manager where she was tasked with enhancing women and girls’ participation in the region. She then progressed to AFL Queensland where she played a key role in creating a full playing pathway for women and girls in the sunshine state as the Female Programs Coordinator before joining the Lions as their Head of Women’s Football ahead of the inaugural season of the NAB AFL Women’s Competition.
Michelle Cowan has been involved in AFL for over two decades, starting her career at the Geelong Cats before moving to Melbourne where she was Head Coach for their women’s team for exhibition matches and as a development coach with the AFL team. Michelle was the inaugural Senior Coach of the Fremantle women’s team before joining the West Coast Eagles in 2018 as an Assistant Coach. She currently oversees Operations and Wellbeing for the Eagles’ women’s team.
AFL General Manager Women’s Football Nicole Livingstone said she was pleased Breeanna and Michelle will be joining the Committee.
“Both Bree and Michelle are great leaders for their respective clubs and fantastic advocates for women’s football across all levels of the game” Ms. Livingstone said.
“It is great to have people of their calibre joining the AFLW Competition Committee and we look forward to their valuable insights and expertise as we head into Season Six of the Competition.
“I would also like to take this opportunity to thank departing members Phil Harper (Adelaide Crows), Laura Kane (North Melbourne), Peta Searle (St Kilda) and Alicia Janz (West Coast Eagles) for their contribution as committee members.”
As a reminder to all media, AFL Commissioner Simone Wilkie is chair, with the charter for the group to ensure the overall progression of AFLW.
The agenda for today’s meeting will include discussion on laws of the game, competition structure, fixturing and talent programs. The Committee will also be provided with an update on the AFLW Expansion process.
The AFLW Competition Committee members in attendance at today’s meeting are as follows:
Simone Wilkie AO AFL Commissioner (Chair)
Nicole Livingstone AFL General Manager Women’s Football
Andrew Dillon AFL Acting GM Football Operations
Brett Murphy AFLPA GM Player and Stakeholder Relations
Phil Harper Adelaide Crows AFLW General Manager
Diana Taylor Geelong Cats Vice President
Mark Evans Gold Coast SUNS CEO
Alicia Eva GWS GIANTS AFLW Captain
Laura Kane North Melbourne General Manager – Strategy & Football Operations
Brendon Gale Richmond CEO
Jessica Burger Collingwood AFLW List Manager
