Lachlan Worthy First Two Blues Women's Coach 2017
Prahran Assumption Football Club has appointed Lachlan Worthy, one of the most experienced coaches in women's football, for its historic venture into the new Victorian Amateur Football Association Women’s Development League next year.
The response from VAFA clubs to the new competition has staggered league administrators with up to 30 clubs expected to take part in a competition that will be split into up to five divisions.
A 'grading' series of matches will start the season on April 8 with the results leading to evenly graded teams in competitions for premiership points.
Lachlan is a proven leader with a strong track record in establishing and developing women’s AFL teams.
He was the inaugural coach of the Sydney University women's team in 2000 and continued in the role for seven years posting a 55 wins, 40 losses and two draws record from 97 games.
He was named Sydney women’s competition coach of the decade for 2000-2009.
Worthy also coached the NSW state women’s team in three National championships finishing runner-up to Victoria in 2000 and 2002.
Worthy holds a unique Sydney competition record- a premiership and a wooden spoon!.
‘’I took the club to two premierships (2001 and 2007) and a grand final in 2000 (where we lost in double extra time). I am the only SWAFL coach to achieve the premiership – wooden spoon double!’’.
Worthy is no stranger to the VAFA scene. He was a foundation player at Monash Gryphons in 1991 and was vice captain in 1994 as the age of 21.
Since returning to Melbourrne in late 2010 Worthy has been involved with the sports his daughters participate in.
‘’I have been coaching my eldest daughter’s U13 netball team, which are part of the Red Angels Netball Club, for the past two years.
I have also been coaching my youngest daughter’s girls’ junior lifesaving team (Nippers) as part of the Mentone Lifesaving Club for the past four years. The team competes at the State Championships each year with excellent results. The girls consistently bring home medals for both team and individual events and the Club have won the overall junior state championships four years in a row.’’
Worthy works as senior contract specialist with Telstra.
His move to Sydney was as part of Sydney Olympics Organising Committee administration.
Worthy is passionate about women's football and was enthusiastic to learn about the 130 year history of the Two Blues.
"I love the history of the club, I've read the 'Blue Boys' book and found it really interesting,'' he said.
‘’I gain a great deal of personal satisfaction from watching players grow in skills and confidence throughout the year and then returning the next year as leaders at their clubs. I want players who attend training in the preseason, having never kicked a footy before, end the year as a key part of the team. ‘’
‘’I saw this player development time and time again and it is what kept bringing them back to the game year after year. I got a real buzz out of watching and listening to the players embrace with such enthusiasm all the aspects and traditions of footy that I love. I also really enjoyed watching players with greater ability than I ever had, take on board my messages and go out and do amazing things on the footy field.’’
‘’A real challenge for me was to take a group of players with a wide range of skills, from Australian sporting representatives through to fine arts students full of enthusiasm and turn them into a cohesive, high performing unit with common goals of winning, enjoyment and learning. ‘’
Lachlan can be contacted on Lachlan.worthy@bigpond.com For further information on Worthy’s coaching career and women’s football in Sydney refer to the links below.
SBS Article - Sydney Women’s Australian Rules football - an Olympic legacy