CARLTON Football Club is delighted to announce the appointment of Daniel Harford as senior coach of its AFL Women’s team.

After playing nine games for the Club in 2004, the former Blue returns to Ikon Park ready to lead Carlton ahead of its third season in the AFLW competition.

Since hanging up the boots on a 162-game AFL playing career, which saw him represent both Hawthorn and Carlton between 1995 and 2004, Harford continued his football journey as a senior coach in Victoria’s strongest suburban football leagues.

In 2008 he coached Balwyn to a premiership in the Eastern Football League, before also leading St Kevin’s to victory in 2015 in the Victorian Amateur Football Association. In 2017, Harford was appointed senior assistant of Collingwood’s AFLW side.

Chief Executive Cain Liddle welcomed Harford’s homecoming to the Carlton Football Club.

“We’re delighted Daniel has accepted the role as our AFLW senior coach. He has a long and distinguished career as both a player and a coach and has a clear understanding of what we stand for in our AFLW program and across the football club more broadly,” Liddle said.

“With this announcement, and the impending appointment of a new General Manager of Women’s Football at the Club, we have strengthened the program considerably as we continue to invest in women’s football.

“We went through a thorough process to get the best candidate available and Daniel has significant experience and knowledge across a number of levels in football. There was a strong alignment in his values and teachings and that is what set him apart, so we are thrilled to welcome him back to the Carlton Football Club.”



Daniel Harford played nine games for Carlton after crossing over from Hawthorn. (Photo: AFL Media)

Harford said he was excited by the opportunity to take the reins of the Blues’ AFLW program.

“I’m really honoured to be appointed senior coach of Carlton’s AFLW team,” Harford said.

“I relished my time in the AFLW system this year and it opened my eyes to the opportunities and challenges presented by women’s football. I’d like to thank the Collingwood Football Club for my time with their program over the past year.

“I have a real passion for developing young football talent, so I hope I can build on the program that has already been established at the Blues, while also leaning on my previous coaching experience.

“I’m elated to continue my football journey at Carlton and I’m very thankful for the opportunity.”

Harford is also a respected media commentator and broadcaster in the industry and will continue in his role as weekday breakfast host on RSN.

Harford will commence in the role at Ikon Park effective immediately.