Former Shepparton, Murchison-Toolamba and Numurkah man Brent Chapman anointed to GWS’ AFLW coaching panel

Brent Chapman, who played for Shepparton, Murchison-Toolamba and Numurkah, is the linking factor — and he’s ready to undergo a big career development.

From teaching tykes to forging females into wrought-iron weapons on the football field, Chapman was announced as Greater Western Sydney’s AFLW backline coach for the 2024 season earlier this month.

It’s no gamble by the Giants to anoint Chapman, but he had to roll the dice slightly to end up where he is.

The Shepparton export served as assistant coach of the Chargers in the Coates Talent League last year and wanted to join his partner in Sydney when the time was right.

Chapman also ran physical sessions with GWS star and Invergordon product Ash in the interim last year.

It was here when the first domino fell.

“He (Ash) made that connection that if I was moving up to let him know and also made that connection with (GWS head of football) Jason McCartney,” Chapman said.

“I moved up at the start of this year and had been in contact with McCartney through the last 12 months while I was at the Oakleigh Chargers and then when I moved up an opportunity arose.

“Firstly I’d be a line coach with the VFL side this year and was just doing a little bit of helping out with the girls’ VFL program and doing a bit of development there.

“From there they asked if I’d be keen to be an assistant coach and backline coach of the AFLW side.”

Chapman was immediately ushered into GWS’ inner sanctum and was blown away by the welcoming approach and one-size-fits-all mentality across the club.

Game styles, language — all universal.

But trying to transfer his coaching nous from males to females is a different ball game, no matter how ubiquitous a club’s code is.

That’s where Chapman’s teaching background came in.

“I guess there’s a lot more teaching with the girls; some of them haven’t been playing football as long as the men,” he said.

“So I guess there’s a bit more teaching with the fundamentals of the game and then their structures and game plans on top of that as well.

“I’m loving doing the work in the women’s program; they’re a really good bunch.

“They’re very energetic and add that fun back into football as well which is really cool.”

Chapman has absorbed a wealth of knowledge since entering the doors of the Giants, sponging off the club’s professional routine, high-profile coaching and various programs.

In a fortnight, his lessons will be put to the test.

GWS kicks off its AFLW campaign on August 31 against 2023 wooden spooners Western Bulldogs, which features Shepparton United product Aurora Smith.

The Giants finished 16th in last year’s charge, but Chapman is raring to embrace the challenge of lifting his girls to lofty heights in the professional realm.

Yet he hasn’t forgotten his roots.

Chapman began his playing days alongside Ash’s dad, Bears legend Stephen Ash, and still looks back fondly on his time in the Goulburn Valley.

“I spent all my playing career there and a lot of my coaching, my coaching started at Heathcote, but then came back over to the Goulburn Valley area to coach Numurkah and then Murch-Toolamba,” he said.

“Most of my life was spent there in my football career as a player and then a head coach.

“My days at Shepp Bears were really exciting; that’s been my home club and I still keep in touch and watch results there.

“I played a lot of my senior years with Steven Ash and then now to be working at the club at an elite level that his son’s playing at, it’s good to have those connections.

“I can just go watch him and have that local connection so far away from the Goulburn Valley area.”

Chapman’s bloodline runs strong at Shepparton with his nephew, Steele, currently playing for the Bears’ under-18s.

The newly-minted AFLW coach also harbours plenty of love for one of his other old clubs, Murchison-Toolamba — even if, from time to time, he does have to cop it from his sibling about missing out on the Hoppers’ most recent flag.

“Murch-Toolamba as well, I loved my time there. My brother played in a premiership there a couple of years before I got there ... unfortunately,” he said.

“But I just love keeping in touch with people from those clubs and also always checking the results and it’s great to see them, Murch, back up there contending.”