Geelong has added Collingwood premiership player Nathan Brown to its coaching staff for the 2025 AFLW season.
Brown, who played 130 games for the Magpies, including the 2010 grand final and replay, and 53 for St Kilda, will take on the midfield role vacated by the departure of local football great Josh Finch.
Since retiring at the end of the 2020 season, he’s played local football with Bellarine club Barwon Heads, featuring in their 2022 premiership, and served in roles at Geelong College, where he is Director of
Football and Performance Pathways.
Brown joins Tom Atkins as a new face in the coaching group, with the AFL midfielder taking on a development role alongside Brown.
Returning are head coach Dan Lowther for a fifth season, assistants Andrew Bruce (forwards) and Elise Coventry (backs), and development and bench coach David Morgan.
“Led by Dan, we’re really pleased to welcome Nathan and Tom to our program, and we are excited to see them work alongside Elise, Andrew, David and our wider football program in 2025,” new head of AFLW Dominique Condo said.
“Nathan joins us with wonderful coaching experience, and his football CV speaks for itself.
“He has built great coaching knowledge through his time at Geelong College, leading their football and pathways program, and we can’t wait to see the influence he can have on our group in 2025.”
The finalisation of Geelong’s coaching staff follows that of the club’s leadership group last week.
Meghan McDonald will captain the Cats for a sixth season, with multiple best-and-fairest Amy McDonald joining Nina Morrison as one of two vice-captains.
Pre-season includes match simulation with St Kilda at Moorabbin on Saturday, July 26, followed by a trip to the Gold Coast for a full-scale practice match on Saturday, August 2.
The Cats open their campaign with a clash against reigning premier North Melbourne Tasmania at GMHBA Stadium on Saturday, August 16.
X: @krockfootball
2025 AFLW Coaching Panel
Senior coach: Dan Lowther
Assistant coach (forwards): Andrew Bruce
Assistant coach (midfield): Nathan Brown
Assistant coach (defence): Elise Coventry
Development coach + bench coach: David Morgan
Development coach: Tom Atkins
2025 AFLW Football Department
Head of AFLW: Dominique Condo
High Performance Manager: Tennille Cuttiford
Player Development Manager: Renee Garing
Operations and Recruiting Manager: Ben Waller
Analyst: Abby Howard
Strength coaches: Nic Hutchinson and Ryan Spoors
Head physiotherapist: Julia Allan-Goodwin
AFLW physiotherapists: Joseph Bisignano and Erin Nelson
Head doctor: Rachel Driscoll
Doctor: Rhys Kelly
