GIANTS inaugural staff member, Alan McConnell, has re-joined the AFLW coaching team.
McConnell will work as Coaches Mentor in the program, having formerly held the role of GIANTS AFLW Head Coach between 2017-2022.
McConnell will assist the extended coaching group as well as head coach Cam Bernasconi in the coaches' box on game days.
His appointment complements the addition of assistant coach Stephen Camp, who will focus on the backline, as well as specialist coach Trent Dennis-Lane, who joins the AFLW program in addition to his roles as AFL Development Coach and VFL Assistant Coach.
Camp has been a Development Coach in the AFLW program for the last two seasons and has an intimate knowledge of the game, also playing at NEAFL level for the Canberra Demons alongside Bernasconi.
Having also working across the club’s male and female Academy programs, Camp moved from a specialised role in 2025 focusing on foot skills, into an assistant coach position ahead of the 2026 season.
Dennis-Lane played 29 games for the Swans and the Saints between 2010-2014 before making a move into coaching and joining the GIANTS ahead of the 2025 season out of the Western Jets.
McConnell was the first person employed by the GIANTS, appointed the club’s high-performance manager back in 2009, two years before the AFL team entered the league.
The pair join full-time assistant coach Emma Zielke, assistant coach Shane Mumford, and new Development Coach Rebecca Privitelli in a newly structured team this year, which also includes current club Development Coach Darren Ratten.
Executive General Manager of AFLW, Alison Zell, said the three new appointments complement an exciting new coaching panel under Bernasconi, whose contract at the club was extended for another two years earlier in the pre-season.
“It’s very exciting to have been able to bring in some significant experience to support Cam further in his role this year,” Zell said.
“Having Emma as a full-time assistant, as well as adding both Trent and Alan’s proficiency, places us in a very strong position and allows Cam to have a more strategic focus in his role.
“Stephen, Alan and Trent are all very familiar faces around the club and have hit the ground running, and we’ve taken plenty of confidence in how seamlessly they’ve slotted into our system.
“It’s great to have Alan back on deck as well, he’s been a well-loved part of the GIANTS family for a long time.”
AFLW Coaching Group
Head Coach - Cam Bernasconi
Assistant Coach (Forwards)/Head of Development - Emma Zielke
Assistant Coach (Midfield) - Shane Mumford
Assistant Coach (Backline) - Stephen Camp
Development Coach - Darren Ratten
Development Coach - Rebecca Privitelli
Specialist Coach - Trent Dennis-Lane
Coaches Mentor - Alan McConnell
