THE Bendigo Pioneers may well have to relocate to Swan Hill shortly, with Swan Hill College teacher Whitney Kennedy last week announced as the new head coach of the Pioneers women’s program for next season.
Kennedy will take over the role from former Nyah-Nyah West United premiership player and Tooleybuc footballer Danny O’Bree, who will stay on as head coach of the Bendigo Pioneers boys’ program.
To make the Swan Hill connection complete, the Bendigo Pioneers last week announced the appointment of another former Nyah-Nyah West United footballer and former Pioneers coach Rick Coburn to the role of talent operations lead, replacing David Meade, who died last month.
Kennedy, a physical education teacher at Swan Hill College, will move full-time into her new role at the end of the school year, with her passion for working with and developing youth a motivating factor in her decision to pursue a new career.
“I’m very excited and looking forward to all the challenges that the new role will bring – it’s different to teaching, but there’s some similarities between the two as well,” Kennedy said.
“There’s a lot of similarities in terms of working with young people and developing skills both on and off the field, only now it will be in a more specific football environment – it won’t be in the classroom, but out on the field now.”
“I think having a teaching background – particularly physical education – will be a big positive for myself and not only the way we can structure sessions and structure the program, but also with building relationships.”
Kennedy, originally from Ballarat, has spent the best part of her teaching career in Swan Hill. But it’s been in recent years that her passion for football has shone through, working with the Woorinen Youth Girls’ program alongside her involvement with the V/Line Cup as a coach and the Pioneers program as an assistant.
With the new season just four months away, Kennedy has hit the ground running. The 80 girls in the Pioneers squad met last Sunday for their first pre-season training in Bendigo. The squad will now return and train at their satellite bases in Bendigo, Echuca, Mildura and Swan Hill, before the final list lodgement for next season is due before March next year.
With the first training run as head coach under her belt, Kennedy is looking forward to what the season holds and gives an insight into how she intends to go the best out of her developing squad.
“I set pretty high standards for myself and for others around me, but that first session (on Sunday) I just spoke to the players about the importance of bringing out the best in each other and encouraging each other – and that includes both myself and the other staff,” she said.
“The focus of it was just to have a bit of fun and for the players to get to know each other and meet a few new people and have an opportunity to get the footy in their hands and learn a bit more about the program and what they’re in for.
“They’re a really great group of girls and I’m pretty excited to work with them.”
With women’s football one of the country’s fastest-growing sports, there is no better time for Kennedy to become involved. With the AFLW Grand Final to be played this weekend – featuring Swan Hill’s Eden Zanker – Kennedy was quick to downplay her own achievement and put the spotlight on those who had helped get her to this point.
“I’m my own harshest critic and I strive to get the best out of myself. But I guess if you were to ask me if I’m proud of being appointed coach then yeah, I am,” Kennedy said.
“But I’m also surrounded by really good people and I think you’re only as good as those who you surround yourself with. So while this opportunity has come from the hard work that I’ve put in, it’s also come from the support and encouragement that other people have given me.
“This program isn’t about the coach though. It’s about developing others – whether that be the girls as footballers and getting them to take the next step, or as good people that integrate into society.”
“Naturally we want them all to get drafted into the AFLW, but if they don’t then it’s about what does that look like for them and about giving them the support so they can continue to enjoy their footy – all I want is for them to all enjoy their footy.”
Bendigo Pioneers locally listed 2023 players
Carlee Hazlett
Jenna Bannam
Breanna Hodgson
Kobe Davison
Brydi Lewis
Gaby Sanford
Samantha Johnston
Nevaeh Roberts
Emilie Ward
Sophie McClelland
Demi Greenwood
Breanna Hodgson
