Lisa Roper – Pennant Hills AFL Club Women’s Premier Squad Coach 2026
COACH DETAILS
Name: Lisa “Coach Kiwi” Roper
Team & Role
– 2026 Head Coach Women’s Premier Division
– Head of Women’s Football Development
Coaching Accreditation: AFL Gold (Level 3), AFL Talent ID 1
PREVIOUS CLUBS & COACHING ROLES
– 32 years of coaching experience across multiple sporting codes & elite levels
– First coached in 1993: Head Coach, Taranaki Women’s Representative Soccer
– 2025: AFL NSW/ACT Coach Developer (Ongoing)
– 2024: Head Co-Coach, Parramatta Goannas, Sydney First Grade Men’s
– 2023: Senior Coach, Macquarie Uni, Men’s Sydney Platinum Division
– 2021: Development Coach, Collingwood FC VFL Women’s
– 2020: Head of Women’s Football & Senior Coach, Macquarie Uni, Women’s Premier Division
PLAYING & SPORTING BACKGROUND
– 287 AFL Games & first woman in NSW to play 250 games
– Most capped NSW Player (2002 – 2009) prior to the establishment of the AFLW League
– Played or coached in 24 Grand Finals, with 10 Premiership wins (and so far, have never lost a Grand Final as a Head Coach!)
– State Representative in Dragon Boating, compromise rules, soccer, AFL, rugby, cricket, softball, skateboarding & BMXing
– Selections in NZ United Softball team twice & the NZ Maori Soccer Team
EXPERIENCE & ACHIEVEMENTS
– 2019 Essendon FC Women of the Year Finalist
– 2012 Sydney AFL Coach of the Year
– 2011 Illawarra Sports Volunteer Finalist
GOALS FOR THE 2026 SEASON
– Grow consistency in our structures and game systems
– Develop the modern game style & footy IQ across all our squads
DEVELOPMENT FOCUS
– Establish an elite women’s programme, including leadership development for our senior players
– Continue to build on our relationship & pathways with junior clubs & develop more future AFLW prospects
GAME STYLE & PHILOSOPHY
The women’s game has evolved over the last 10-15 years in a big way, and I am excited to be back in Sydney using the experience & knowledge I gained from my time in Victoria to help grow our next crop of AFLW talent, develop players for a stronger league and mentor future coaches of this game.
I am confident we have a great mix of modern drills that really develop players, mixed in with new drills and adaptations from other codes, to ensure we get the best from our squad and create an interesting, engaging and fun environment to blossom in.
COACHING PHILOSOPHY STATEMENT
“Keeping it inclusive, no matter their reason for being (at the Club) or footy goals; we will build a place where everyone gets to contribute – where they can thrive, grow & be part of something special”
FUN FACTS
– Favourite AFL team: The Sydney Swans
– Favourite coaching moment: Winning the 2011 Grand Final as a coach & player alongside my daughter – bonus that we both scored goals in that final.
– Fun fact: I have coached (at some time in their development) around 60 players who are now in the AFL or AFLW Leagues
– Best advice to players: What you put in is what you will get out of any programme. Trust in your coaches and continue to ask the questions and grow.
