We are thrilled to announce Emily Smith and Ashleigh Gunn as our co-head coaches for season 2025.
Gunna and Smitty, as they are better known, both played for Abers in 2024 and come with extensive playing experience, both having played over 100 games, including VFLW and AFLW in Smitty’s case.
Gunna has played 93 VFLW games from 2016-2023 including 2 seasons as the Western Bulldogs Co-Captain. Coming across to Abers as a playing assistant in 2024 for her first season of local level footy. Prior to football, gunna played for Keilor Thunder in the Big V Basketball competition, where she also coached junior rep teams.
Smitty came to Abers in 2024 as our vice captain coming off 2 seasons at Collingwood AFLW, after 7 years off from football to focus on her cricket career in the WBBL and WNCL. Prior to focusing on cricket Smitty played almost 200 footy games across juniors and seniors, playing in the vic metro youth girls team, and in the VWFL. She has coached multiple junior cricket teams, and senior women’s football teams previously.
Together, as amazing leaders and communicators, they will drive a welcoming culture and build a united squad understanding of women’s football and all that it encompasses. Their passion and commitment to our program will help them work with all other coaches to see us build on strong 2023 and 2024 campaigns.
We are thrilled to have experienced Abers people leading the Senior Women’s team for the 2025 season. We look forward to building on our successful 2023 and 2024 seasons, and further strengthening our Women’s Program with the inclusion of an additional U18.5 side, and having all four teams coming together. Let’s bring it on!
