SOUTH Gambier Football Club’s Nicolle Orr will make history tonight when she becomes the first female head coach in the Limestone Coast Women’s Football League.
Orr will take the reins when the reigning premiers battle with West Gambier at McDonald Park.
Taking on the role as assistant coach in 2018 Orr will step up, in head coach Chris Edmonds’ absence.
A passion for the game and the development of others are two reasons why Orr joined the league.
“I have always loved footy,” she said.
“My Pop said it is Adelaide Crows or nothing, so we have always been a Crows family.
“When I was about 21 or 22, I started playing in Victoria and then when I moved over here I played for a club in Adelaide for about five years until I did my knee.”
Orr has taken on roles such as Under 14 SANFL coach, Under 15 Kickstart state Indigenous coach and Under 18 state team manager, which saw her mentor the up-and-coming women of the sport, including current AFLW Adelaide Crows premiership player and former Millicent resident Sarah Allen.
“I team managed the state side for five years and there wasn’t a state team that Sarah was on, that I wasn’t,” Orr said.
“I also saw a lot of her sister Jess Allen play.
“It is exciting to see those girls now coming up through the AFLW.”
Orr’s personal football career – which saw her play in Victoria before shifting to Adelaide and donning the Morphettville and Adelaide University uniform – ended after a bad injury.
“It was the last game of the season and I was captain at Adelaide Uni,” she said.
“It was a week before my grand final with Morphettville, but I didn’t want to miss our last game with the uni.
“We hadn’t won a game all year and we were close to this team coming into the final quarter, so I thought I would play, but the ruckman slid into my leg, dislocated my knee and snapped my ACL, MCL and PCL.”
A handy player in the backline during her time on the ground, Orr said while she would love to pull her boots back on, the injury has resulted in her focusing on coaching.
“I am trying to help the girls now,” she said.
“It is very unexpected to get this role, but it is very good in one way.
“It is a gentle reminder that women do understand football and love football just as much as everybody else.”
Orr said she was overwhelmed with the improvement of the Limestone Coast Women’s Football League.
“We are seeing players like East Gambier’s Kiara Beck who has developed and grown to now be a part of the SANFL Glenelg development side,” she said.
“We now have that stepping stone and girls can get a taste of football.
“Obviously all of our state programs are run out of Adelaide, but if selectors find out we have talent down here it will all help.”
South Gambier won the premiership in the LCWFA inaugural year and Orr said the group is only improving.
“We are looking really good,” she said.
“All of the girls are in good shape and I think they have more footy smarts this year.
“We no longer need to show them where to stand on the field and they get the positions and most plays.
“I think in the next couple of years we are going to be able to set up proper tactical plays.”
While a premiership is the ultimate goal, Orr said the Demons will be up against it this year.
“I think we are travelling along pretty well, but I think Kybybolite will be the team to beat,” she said.
“We played them and lost by a goal, but the girls had so many questions after the game, which was good.
“They are developing their football smarts and I think their skills are improving.”
Orr said there was a long list of South players to watch out for in the future.
“Tess Clark won the best and fairest overall for the league last year and she was phenomenal to watch,” she said.
“But we have some really good players coming up through the ranks like Claudia Edmonds, Lauren Frost, Jasmine White and Kendell Saffin.”
A shared effort between both Orr and Edmonds has achieved a hungry Demons outfit.
“We move magnets around and debate about who should play where,” she said.
“I will feel comfortable to take the role, having coached previously.
“We are both comfortable with who plays where and what we would like to see and try, and we trust each other.”
Edmonds agreed and said he was excited by the direction South Gambier was heading.
“This isn’t just about handing it over for the week, it is about a proper transition process,” he said.
“This is an exciting and more appropriate platform, she has a passion for the game and it is far more appropriate that she picks up that mantle and runs with it.
“I will keep being the coach this year and on moments like this Nicolle will take over.”
Edmonds said he will continue to give Orr the opportunities to step up into the major role.
“I think it is a perfect set up and hopefully next year I can step completely out of the picture and Nicolle can take the reins and step in on being the head coach from there,” she said.
“Nicolle will do some coaching accreditation this year.
“South Gambier Football Club will support her in that.
“Leigh Winterfield the president and Heath Mitchell the A Grade coach are really excited about this opportunity.
“It is not just the women’s team, it is the South Gambier Football Club senior coaching team and we love having Nicolle on board.”
