Three of the eight foundation AFL Women's clubs – Adelaide, Carlton and Fremantle – have appointed new coaches for the 2019 season. In a three-part ‘Meet the Coach’ series, AFL.com.au introduces the people in charge: their background, their motivation for coaching and how they see their team shaping up for the new season.

The series kicks off with a look at Adelaide's Matthew Clarke, followed by Carlton's Daniel Harford and finishing with Fremantle's Trent Cooper.

DESPITE joining a team that finished bottom of the ladder, Carlton's new AFL Women’s coach Daniel Harford is full of optimism.

The Blues won their first match of the 2018 NAB AFLW season. A week later, they lost captain Brianna Davey to a torn ACL in her right knee late in the game on the way to a victory over Greater Western Sydney. They didn't win another match.

"I don't think about it (the poor 2018 season) much to be honest with you," Harford told AFL.com.au.

"I know it’s the reality and we have to build from that, but at this stage, because of the evolution of the competition and the way things work with a small season, things change really quickly.

"From one week to the next, the whole competition can flip on its ear. Certainly I understand it's a low base to start from, in terms of position on the ladder, but I see that as the challenge."

The 41-year-old played 153 games for Hawthorn before crossing to Carlton to finish his career with what he jokingly termed "nine of the best games", before retiring in 2004.

He started coaching Eastern Football League club Balwyn in Melbourne's east in 2008, following that with a stint with Victorian Amateur Football Association club St Kevin’s in 2012.

Towards the end of 2017, Harford accepted an offer to be a senior assistant coach with Collingwood's AFLW team. The offer came out of the blue while he was holidaying with his family in Vietnam, and he said he enjoyed the 2018 season with the Magpies immensely.

After the Blues' inaugural coach Damien Keeping parted ways with the club at the end of last season, Harford saw an opening.

"I'm a pretty competitive person. It's dissipated a bit from a playing perspective after all these years, but I still like to compete, and coaching gives me that chance," said Harford, a father of two.

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"The AFLW program has been wonderful in my family's life."

Appointed in late April, Harford had to hit the ground running, with the trade and re-signing period just a few weeks away.

"I went through the list and caught up with the girls individually and had a chat about what was good, what was bad, what we needed to fix, what they like, what they don't like, and a bit about who I am. It was a bit of a get-to-know-you session," he said.

"I did that 28 times, which was a lot, but it was good. When you're taking over any job, it doesn't matter what level of footy it is … you need to get to know your players pretty quickly.

"Considering the gap between seasons in the AFLW (close to 10 months), I thought it was even more important, that I wasn't just this guy who they'd heard about or seen on the club website."

The positive for Carlton fans is the team already has strong foundations to build on, with the competition's 2017 leading goalkicker Darcy Vescio, high-flying forward Tayla Harris, rising ruck Breann Moody and one of the most damaging rebound defenders in the AFLW in Davey.

Jumping for joy: Darcy Vescio celebrates a goal in the AFLW this season. Picture: AFL Photos



"Throw in Nicola Stevens, who's a terrific player, and (midfielder) Katie Loynes, who had a great season last year (and) that's a pretty good handful of players to build your squad around," Harford said.

"There is some experience and there are some young girls here who are still working out what the game is at this level. As a coach, that’s a great mix to deal with.

"You can lean on some of the experienced players to help you develop the next generation of players.

"That's why you coach … because you think you can help develop people and help make them better. The cornerstones are good, but it's inside that framework that excites me a fair bit."

One area Harford will be looking at closely over the next few months will be Carlton's defence, with the loss of tall pair Danielle Hardiman and Kate Gillespie-Jones to expansion side North Melbourne.

"We can restructure or we can go and try and acquire that sort of player. We could go into the draft, but the best (players) in the draft are midfielders. Considering the lack of depth we have in the midfield, that's probably an area we can't afford to bypass," he said.

"What we do in defence is certainly going to be a challenge for us. Whether there are established players in the VFLW we like, or there's young talent we nurture in those positions, or we restructure … we've got a few decisions to make on that front."

Harford takes over as AFLW coach from Damien Keeping. Picture: AFL Photos





This year, Carlton is fielding a team in the VFLW competition for the first time, with former Collingwood AFLW assistant coach Shannon McFerran in charge.

"The way it's set up now at Carlton, with the VFLW team, we'll be able to plan more," Harford said.

"It was a bit hit and miss I think, until the start of this program. Then you get (recently appointed head of women's football) Nicole Graves coming in to run the whole thing. Finally there's a conduit between both programs in women's footy at the club.

"I like popping in … the last couple of weeks I've been at VFLW team training just to help. I'm not taking over and I'm not being the big boss. I'm just being someone else to move the cones and pick up the bibs. It's a good way to get to know the girls in a footy environment."

Harford hosts a breakfast radio show on RSN in Melbourne on weekdays, but says he'll be able to combine the two jobs.

"I did it last year (at Collingwood), so I don't see it being too much of an issue. That's the beauty of breakfast morning radio – it's (tough) early hours, but I'm home by 10 o'clock,” he said.

"Having a sighter last year and living that life for six months with Collingwood was really good for me to understand the stresses of it, physically and mentally, so I was pretty cognisant of that when I applied for the job.

"It's full-on for a period, but coaching's great fun. If you're doing it for any other reason than trying to make people better, it becomes a bit of a chore and quite draining.

"I'll have a bit of fun along the way."