Hills AFL Clubs Benefit from Elite Coaching
Coaches from The Hills District gained invaluable tips from a coaching workshop held by senior GWS Giants coaches, including head coach Adam Kingsley.
Representatives from East Coast Eagles, Pennant Hills, Parramatta Goannas, Kellyville-Rouse Hill Magpies, Baulkham Hills and Castle Hill Sports High School were among 30 coaches from across Sydney who learnt new skills to pass on to their teams, ranging from Auskick to Sydney Premier Division level.
The local coaches included Adrian Cordi (Hills Sports High School), Daniel Elson (Kellyville), Chad Fleay (Hills Eagles/Baulkham Hills), Jonna Kaars (Pennant Hills Demons), Kyle Mahoney (Pennant Hills), Max Pobihuszka, Shane Sweep, and Max Roberts (Kellyville Rouse Hill Magpies), Trend Sandercoe (Baulkham Hills), Michael Thompson (East Coast Eagles), Steven Toohey (Westbrook Junior AFL Club, Cherrybrook), and Luke Van Staveren (Baulkham Hills Junior AFL Club).
The local coaches were able to pick the collecting coaching brains of GWS Senior coaching staff, including Kingsley, assistant coaches Jeremy Laidler, Ben Hart and Craig Jennings.
Kingsley said they were happy to share ideas and learn from each other. “This has been a great opportunity to work hand in hand with community football clubs across Greater Sydney,” he said.
“Footy around here is tight-knit so to be able to share ideas and learn from each other makes us all stronger and richer. We’re eager to continue deepening our connection with community clubs.
“We want to ensure that we’re helping up-skill coaches who are at the forefront of the game and are ambassadors for it on the ground, especially here in Western Sydney.”
During the busy coaching session held at the GWS headquarters, they learnt about structure training, developing club culture, talent, and development pathways.
The event was a joint effort between the Giants and AFL NSW/ACT Coaching and Education Lead Ryan O’Keefe.
There are seven AFL clubs in The Hills District across junior, senior and masters footy plus four school Auskick programs.
Meanwhile, Giants’ players Harvey Thomas (AFL), Madison Brazendale, Zarlie Goldsworthy, Brodee Mowbray and Tarni Evans presented the first crop of Hills Phoenix JAFC with their guernseys ahead of the 2025 AFL Sydney Season.
Hills Phoenix is a girls-only alliance between Baulkham Hills Hawks and Kellyville-Rouse Hill Magpies. The Hawks and the Magpies have had a huge growth in registration.
