Southern Saints boost coaching stocks

16/11/2021

Former Southern Saint Jasmine Rolland returns to the club as one of three new development coaches alongside Gaby Suriano and Brett Stickland.

Kira Price of Melbourne Uni (L) and Jasmine Rolland of the Saints compete for the ball during the round 11 VFLW match between the Southern Saints and Melbourne Uni at SkyBus Stadium on July 22, 2018 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Kelly Defina/AFL Media

Rolland continues her journey with the Saints after playing eight games for the club throughout their inaugural VFLW campaign in 2018, where she impressed as an experienced member of the squad.

She spent 2021 at the Frankston Dolphins and has played over 100 games for the Mornington Bulldogs, a team in the South Eastern Womens Football League.

Now in the twilight of her playing career, Rolland is keen to support the next generation of women's footballers and joins the Southern Saints program after being invited back numerous times this year to assist with training.

Joining her at the Saints is Gaby Suriano, who’s currently in her third season as head coach of the Prahran Junior Football Club.

Suriano works with junior footballers from under 10s through to under 18s and is also a player with the Old Haileyburians Amateur Football Club in the VAFA.

She developed an interest in coaching after working in corporate leadership and has been accepted into the Saints Female Coaching Academy, where she’ll complete her Level 2 coaching accreditation.

Rounding out the signings is Brett Stickland, who has experience as an elite long-distance runner and in boys football at junior and senior levels.

Stickland has a keen interest in mindfulness and the desire to develop his coaching skills in women’s football.

Assistant coaches Shane Hamill and Sam Calogero will reprise their roles in 2022, with Dale Robinson continuing as senior coach.

Robinson is looking forward to working alongside Rolland, Suriano and Stickland over the coming months.

“I'm excited to have all 3 coaches on board as they offer different insights and personalities to the group but one thing they have in common is they are very passionate about women's football and helping girls learn and thrive,” she said.

Written by Jack Bennett - Sandringham Football Club Media