North Melbourne VFLW premiership coach Brett Gourley has been appointed head coach of the inaugural rebel VFLW State Team.
Gourley last year steered the Kangaroos to the rebel VFLW finals for the first time in the club’s history before claiming their maiden premiership with a 20-point Grand Final win over the Western Bulldogs.
He will be at the helm as a new chapter in the long-standing rivalry between the VFL and SANFL is written during the AFL’s Gather Round, with women’s representative teams from the VFLW and SANFLW to meet for the first time since their establishment in 2017.
The AAMI State Game will be played at Alberton Oval on Friday, April 11 and will kickstart a big weekend of representative action, with a clash between the VFL and SANFL men’s state teams to follow at Tanunda Recreation Park on Saturday, April 12.
In addition to his role as head coach of North Melbourne’s VFLW team, Gourley previously served as the Kangaroos’ AFLW Head of Player Development.
He was an AFLW assistant coach at North Melbourne from 2019-2021 and Essendon in 2022, as well as being involved in coaching roles with Vic Metro and the Calder Cannons.
Gourley said it was an honour to be appointed coach of the rebel VFLW State Team for its first representative match.
“It's incredibly humbling and I'm really honoured to have the opportunity to lead the group,” Gourley said.
“To be able to lead such a fantastic competition and represent an amazing group of players and staff is something that I'm incredibly proud of.
“The Victoria and South Australia rivalry is something that I've grown up with. We'll be giving everything that we've got to win the game and do the Victorians proud.”
Gourley will lead a highly experienced coaching panel that will include AFLW premiership forward and Collingwood VFLW assistant Sarah Perkins, Box Hill Hawks specialist coach and former North Melbourne VFLW coach Steph Binder, Casey Demons assistant Dee Longwill and Collingwood VFLW coach Tom Cashin.
With the coaching group now appointed, Gourley said attention would quickly turn to selecting the playing squad.
Only VFLW-listed players from the 12-team rebel VFLW competition will be eligible for selection. Players who feature on AFLW lists for the upcoming 2025 season will be ineligible.
“It’s going to be incredibly difficult to narrow it down to 22 or 23 or where we wherever we land with it. I think that the girls that will be selected in the squad and within the team will all have deserved their spots,” Gourley said.
“We'll be looking to play a really exciting brand of footy and one that can showcase all the girls’ individual strengths. It's just a fantastic opportunity for our girls to showcase what they can do in such a big occasion.
“You obviously want to go over there and have a win and make sure that we're part of something really special. But, there's a big part of me as well that wants to be able to showcase what these girls can do on a big stage.
“It's a fantastic way to kick off the season. We'll have a massive game against the SANFL over there and then straight into Round 1 the week after. So, it’s a really exciting time to be part of the VFLW.”
2025 AAMI State Game – Women’s
rebel VFLW State Team vs SANFLW
Friday, April 11, 2025
6:30pm local / 7:00pm AEST
Alberton Oval
2025 AAMI State Game – Men’s
Smithy’s VFL State Team vs SANFL’s West End State Team
Saturday, April 12, 2025
2:45pm local / 3:15pm AEST
Tanunda Recreation Park
