After an extensive coaching search, Jarrad Donders has been dubbed as the coach to lead Richmond's AFLW program to success.
Donders possesses a decorated coaching and high-performance resume, formerly working as the Eastern Ranges and Vic Metro coach.
Now, the goal of leading the Tigers to their first AFLW premiership is at the forefront of his agenda.
“I’m really excited for myself and my family to be able to come in to such a great Victorian club,” Donders told Richmond Media.
“Obviously, a big club with great facilities, and a fantastic reputation throughout the history of the club. I’m really grateful, and really privileged to step into the role.
“We've got a really exciting playing group that I look forward to going on the journey to ultimately deliver an inaugural premiership to this club, for the first time in the women's program.”
With pre-season set to start in May, Donders is looking to hit the ground running, implementing a quick style of play poised to excite Tiger fans.
“I love to play a fast attacking game,” Donders said.
“The game is purely in transition majority of the time, so making sure that we're building a sustainable game model that's going to meet those AFLW competitive trends is important.
“Most importantly, we're going to bring our members and fans along on the journey with us.
“So, we're entertaining them, and ultimately growing the game for the future as well.”
Off the field, the 33-year-old is looking to bring in strategies that best unite staff and the playing group, in order to set the program up for long-term success.
“We're still in the off period at the moment, so that connection piece is going to be absolutely crucial before we start the on-field, pre-season component that'll come up very quickly,” Donders said.
“I think in our first year, it's going to be really important that we're establishing some key strategic priorities within our program.
“The Club has just come off a review, so those priorities will be heavily aligned to that, and once we establish a clear framework, structures and procedures around that, it'll be about improvement.
“I think rapid improvement will come with clarity and alignment.”
Having led the Coates Talent League U/18s girls, Donders brings a wealth of experience when it comes to developing the next generation of talent, a skill set he wishes to build upon with the current playing group at the Swinburne Centre.
“I've actually got some relationships with players that currently sit on the list, which is really exciting given they just got drafted recently over the last couple of years,” he said.
“There's a core elite group within this team, and obviously the development component's going to be really important, so those core elite players can have a consistent impact, and we can fast-track the development of that accelerating group underneath.
“I can't wait to get stuck in with our girls here and fast-track their development.”
