Alicia Eva is taking on a new challenge in 2019, balancing her career as the GIANTS’ AFL Women’s vice-captain with a coaching role in the club’s NEAFL program.

The 27-year-old has spent the summer working alongside the GIANTS’ AFL coaching staff as they put the men’s squad through their paces in preparation for the 2019 season.

Eva, who has been coaching since she was a teenager, will take the reins as the GIANTS’ NEAFL backline coach.

Eva told SEN’s Gerard Whateley that she’s been soaking up every football lesson that she can while working closely with NEAFL coach Adam Schneider and AFL backline coach Mark McVeigh.

“It’s been a bit of fun for me the last few months I’ve been balancing the AFLW playing role which is my priority, but I guess my work outside of playing is also at the club now in that coaching capacity,” she said.

“I’m acting very much like a sponge and taking it all in. I’m sitting in on all sorts of meeting and – for me as a coach with where I want to get to down the track – it’s been the best experience.

“I’m learning a lot, not just in a footy capacity. I’m learning a lot about communication and what is required at the next level.”

While Eva is one of the youngest coaches at the GIANTS, she has a wealth of football experience.

A highly credentialed player in her own right, the 2018 Gabrielle Trainor Medallist has coached both men and women in junior talent pathways.

At 18 she was appointed head coach of the East Malvern Youth Girls team before taking on the role as Calder Cannons’ Under-16 head coach in 2011.

By 2012 Eva had become a development coach with the Under-18s program. In 2017 Eva led the Cannons to the inaugural TAC Cup Girls premiership and in 2018 guided the likes of Alyce Parker as head coach of the NSW/ACT Youth Girls team.

“In terms of progression for myself, the next step is to work in the NEAFL space or if I was to work in Victoria, in a VFL role,” Eva said.

“For me I’m conscious about ticking all the boxes, I’m actually really lucky to be able to coach at the club that I play at.

“The GIANTS have been fantastic for me in that capacity and I guess for me it’s a bit of a unique scenario; I don’t think there have been many players playing and coaching at the same time.”

Eva is one of few women coaching at the elite level but she’s not getting caught up in any talk about where her bright future might be headed.

“I just want to coach at the highest level that I’m equipped for,” she said.

“I’m a big believer that you’re the best coach for the job.

“If I keep on ticking the boxes then hopefully one day a club, when they’re deciding that I’m the best person for the role, look at what I’ve done and hopefully I gain work based on merit and they look favourably at me because of the experience that I’ve had.”