Tara Murray
Craig Prior is stepping back into the coaching hot seat for Wyndhamvale in the Western Football League women’s competition.
Prior had coached the side previously before stepping down and taking a break last season. He took on the role in 2021 and took the side to a division 2 grand final in 2023.
He replaces Jay Dolliver who coached the side last season having been an assistant coach previously.
Joining him as an assistant in 2025 will be Rachael Burton.
Burton has Victorian Football League women’s experience. She joined the club to play with her sister last season and committed full time to the club for the 2024 season.
Prior said after conversations with Burton the pair decided they wanted to take on coaching the side.
“They advertised the position this year again,” he said. “Rachael and I had a chat.
“We didn’t know what extent the interest was outside the club for the role.
“Rachael is keen to get in the coaching journey and I have a lot of time for her as a person. We agreed to jump on doing it this year with her as a playing assistant and I would help her out with the view to eventually her taking on the role, whenever that maybe.”
Prior, who has coached more than 200 games at the Falcons, was no stranger to the club this year while he had a year off coaching the women’s side.
He helped start up and under-14 girls side.
Senior players Mariah Burton and Angel Noone were assistant coaches and will coach the side next year.
Prior said it’s a real positive to see the senior playing group invested in the club’s female program.
The Falcons finished in seventh this season with four wins after the two divisions were combined this year.
Only West Footscray, which beat them in the 2023 grand final, finished higher than them from the teams that were in division 2.
Prior said they want to have a fair dinkum crack this season.
“The vibe is good and we are actively out there recruiting,” he said. “We’re talking to a few girls from the division 1 clubs and some girls from around the area that are coming out of under-18s.”
The club is holding a meet the coaches night on Friday night at the club at 7pm.
“It will be good to see any new and returning players on the night, as the plans for pre-season and a massive 2025 will be laid out,” the club said in a social media post.
