Tara Murray
New Northern Knights girls coach Allana Dickie is still pinching herself following the appointment at the NAB League club.
Dickie was recently announced the Knights girls coach and Anthony Rocca, the boys coach, as extra investment from the AFL allows for full time coaches for both programs.
Dickie said this role was something she had been working towards, but didn’t think it would come for another couple of years.
“It’s something that I have worked towards since coming over from Western Australia,” she said.
“I’ve had different opportunities across Victoria and worked as an assistant coach at the Calder Cannons last season.
“I keep pinching myself. I thought it would take a little bit longer, but I’m very grateful for the opportunity.”
Dickie’s football coaching journey started back in Western Australia. With her brother and father both involved in the local club, she did too.
“I’m from a small mining town, Newman,” she said. “My dad and brother played.
“I used to coach the rugby players and teach them the rules of the game and how to kick or handball.
“It was a male dominant environment. I was 15 at the time and everyone made me feel really welcome.”
Dickie said the opportunity to work full time in the industry was something she was looking forward to, after combining work and coaching the last few years. As well as being at the Cannons, she had been part of the futures program and previously an assistant coach for Williamstown’s Victorian Football League women’s side.
She said it hadn’t always been easy.
“I’m really looking forward to a better work-life balance,” she said. “I was getting to work early and then leaving early to go to footy.
“I was going home at the end of the day after a 12 hour day.”
Dickie said she was open to coaching opportunities in both the girls and boys programs and was excited to get to work with the playing group.
She had previously crossed paths with talent operations lead Nat Grindal and coached some of the players as an assistant coach with Vic Metro.
“There’s a lot of new faces and a big part of it is getting to know each other,” she said.
“I want to get to know the players as individuals. I come with not a strong understanding of the playing group, which is a possessive as well. I’ll see where they’re all at and go from there.”
Dickie and Rocca are set to work closely together, with a lot of connection between the girls and boys programs.
The two were already helping out at their first training sessions.
Dickie said while she wants to help the playing group be the best players they can, she also wants to be a role model.
“I’m very passionate about working with female coaches,” she said. “The pathway wasn’t so clear when I was coming through.
“There’s so many opportunities around for them. I want to be a role model and support and hopefully when they finish up playing I can encourage a few to get into coaching.”
