Coventry receives coaching scholarship

GEELONG Cats AFLW assistant coach Elise Coventry is the recipient of a prestigious AFL coaching scholarship due to her work among the Cats’ coaching staff the past two seasons.

Coventry has received the 2023 AFL Coaches Association Pathway Scholarship, an initiative that first started in 2019 to upskill aspiring coaches to the top coaching level.

Coventry said she was honoured to be chosen.

“I’m very grateful for the opportunity to continue my coaching development with the AFL Coaches Association Pathway Scholarship.

“I’ve loved the challenge of beginning my coaching career over the past few seasons and am so glad that Geelong recognised my potential and have aided and supported my development and thank the AFL Coaches Association for giving me this opportunity now.

“It’s a great pleasure to work with players on their development and help them to produce their best on the field, and I look forward to continuing to grow and expand my own horizons as a coach.”

A foundation VFLW Cat and part of Geelong’s inaugural AFLW playing list, Coventry first got coaching experience while nursing an anterior cruciate ligament injury in 2019.

She officially joined the Cats as a development coach before the 2021 season, before turbocharging her development in 2022.

Coventry’s scholarship will allow her to take part in the AFL Coaches Association’s Next Coach Program and various coaching courses.

She will also receive a mentorship from new Geelong assistant coach Steven King as part of the scholarship.

Cats AFLW coach Dan Lowther said the scholarship was given to a worthy recipient.

“Our entire women’s program – players, coaches and staff – are incredibly proud of ‘Flynny’ for the recognition of her coaching potential that this scholarship is.

“Her rapid rise within the Club is indicative of her immense ability, and we’re thrilled to have a coach of Flynny’s calibre involved with our program.

“Her football knowledge, ability to build relationships with players, and the care and commitment she shows to the entire program are second to none.”

Coventry and her fellow coaches will hope to pull out a Preliminary Final win against the Brisbane Lions tomorrow (Saturday, November 25).