Steen Returns to SANFL Women’s

By ZAC MILBANK

North Adelaide has raised the stakes in its pursuit of an elusive Statewide Super League flag by signing SANFL Women’s premiership coach Krissie Steen.

Steen, who replaces the Roosters’ inaugural mentor Matthew Slade, returns to Adelaide after spending last year’s AFLW campaign as an assistant mentor with the Greater Western Sydney Giants.

The 45-year-old, who guided South Adelaide to its 2018 SANFL Women’s flag, was afforded the opportunity to mix with AFL coaches Lenny Hayes and Mark McVeigh at GWS.

But Steen is now hungry to put into practice what she has learned with the Giants by coaching in her own right at Menzies Crescent in 2020.

”I’m really excited and grateful to be given this opportunity with the North Adelaide Football Club’s SANFLW team,” Steen said.

”I feel like we are a perfect fit.

”I’m looking forward to getting the 2020 program started and bringing the professionalism and knowledge of the AFL system with me.

”As a coach, I have a huge focus on getting the finer details right and implementing a playing system.

”The program will be all encompassing, educational, really hard work and most of all, a lot of fun.”

Having kept a close eye on the Statewide Super League this year, Steen has noted a steady improvement in the standard and will encourage her promising Roosters to strive for selection in AFLW ranks.

”The SANFLW is a fantastic competition, which is getting better every year,” Steen said.

”I know I’ll have some girls in my charge who are dreaming of playing AFLW and we will do everything we can to make that happen.

”At the moment the focus is on bolstering the list with some fresh talent and finalising the coaching team.”

Under Slade’s tutelage, North has come agonisingly close to tasting the ultimate success by finishing runner-up in 2017 and 2019 as well as a third-placing in 2018.

The Roosters will hold a second ”Come and Try” session for prospective recruits on Thursday September 26 from 6pm at Thebarton Oval.