Young & Handley named inaugural Xavs women’s coaches

It’s been a busy week for those involved with Old Xaverians as they announced Rohenna Young and Matt Handley as their senior and assistant women’s coaches.

Just days after naming James McDonald as their senior men’s coach, the club has another first-class coaching addition in Young, who has coached premierships with both Victoria University and Darebin Falcons throughout her 21-year involvement in women’s football.

Handley is a Xavs and Big V star. He captained the senior representative side to Vic Metro Champions in 2015, has made more Big V appearances than any current VAFA player and won back-to-back goal kicking awards in William Buck Premier.

Read the full Old Xaverians announcement below:

“We are excited to announce Rohenna Young is the inaugural coach of the Old Xaverians Women’s team, competing in the VAFA competition from 2017. Rohenna has been involved in Women’s Football over 21 years as a player, coach and executive board member of the Victorian Women’s Football League (VWFL). Rohenna won the Best First Year Player award for the VWFL and played in four premiership teams, winning the Lisa Hardeman medal for best on ground in a grand final. Rohenna was a four time All-Australian and seven time Victorian representative, club and state captain.

Rohenna has coached both Victoria University (VU) and Darebin Falcons to premierships and the pennant at the Southern University Games. She holds a Full Blue from VU and is a life member of the VWFL. The competition’s Leading Goal Kicker award is named in her honour. Rohenna holds a BSc from VU and an MBA from VU/Université de Reims Champagne-Ardenne, and is employed at VU as Manager of Sports Facilities. She has resisted many calls to return to coaching, but did not hesitate to put up her hand to coach Old Xavs.

“I am excited to be a part of the long and proud history of Old Xaverians Football Club, which is a prime mover in the VAFA’s establishment of a women’s league,” Ms Young told oldxavs.com.au.

“I look forward to developing an Old Xavs’ women’s team that seeks and ultimately enjoys the same success as our men’s teams do. “Our first job is to promote and recruit, and then we will get about the business of moulding a team,” Ms Young said.

Club President Bill Denton welcomed Rohenna to the Old Xavs family.

“We are very proud that we have been able to attract someone of the calibre of Rohenna Young to our club,” Denton said.

“Rohenna has been a trailblazer in women’s football for a long time and her experience and know-how will be extraordinarily valuable as we embark on this foray into the VAFA Women’s competition.

“We are also delighted that our club’s leading goal-kicker and five-time premiership player Matthew Handley will be Rohenna’s Assistant Coach. With two accomplished forwards at the helm, we expect that the women’s team will be able to post some big scores in 2017.”