Old Launcestonians have added an AFLW flavour to their coaching stocks for 2022, with Abbey Green taking over the women's role.
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After knee issues forced the two-game North Melbourne and Collingwood recruit into retirement, the 24-year-old will take her first coaching steps at the Blues.
"It was a bit of a shock, (club president) Tom (Harrison) reached out to me a few months ago and said that I would be a good candidate for the position and to be honest, I took it up straight away," she said.
"I love what he has to offer down here, they've got a great club culture, so I'm excited to be on board.
"I've always had a passion for coaching, being 24 it wasn't where I wanted to be, obviously retiring from AFLW and football with my knee, but this is the perfect opportunity."
Despite the premature retirement from the top level, Green hasn't fully shut the door on joining her new teammates on the field next season but admitted "it's early days" in her rehabilitation.
Drafted to North Melbourne from Launceston's TSLW side in the 2019 draft, Green debuted in front of a home-town UTAS Stadium crowd and played one more game for the Roos before being traded to Collingwood.
Unable to add to her tally there as knee injuries plagued her 2021 season, the 183cm ruck-forward retired in June and since then, has just been enjoying life.
"It's been the first time I've had a rest in a few years so it's nice to settle down and enjoy life and coaching was the next best thing for me," she said.
Her time without football will finish up around the end of October, the tentative date for her side's pre-season.
However, she doesn't want to rush her group back into play after such a strong finish to the end of the season.
Sitting eighth at the mid-way point of the year, OLs stormed into the finals series, and eventually the grand final, before going down to Green's old side Launceston in their first year in the NTFAW.
"This is the second grand final that they've made in two years, so we will continue developing our skills, working on our team structure and hopefully a flag will come our way sooner enough," Green added.
Josh Partridge
As a sports-mad fan who loves to remain challenged, sports journalism always seemed the path for me and it's allowed me to do things I never thought possible. A keen racquet sports player, I'm experienced in that field, allowing me to do my job at a strong standard.
As a sports-mad fan who loves to remain challenged, sports journalism always seemed the path for me and it's allowed me to do things I never thought possible. A keen racquet sports player, I'm experienced in that field, allowing me to do my job at a strong standard.
