Cameron Bernasconi is set to take on the top AFLW coaching role at the GWS Giants, and in turn will become the second Canberran to steer a side in the competition.
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The 29-year-old will take over from Alan McConnell, becoming the third coach at the Giants since the club's inception into the AFLW in 2017.
He'll also join fellow Canberran, Hawthorn coach Bec Goddard, in the top flight.
"It's a tribute to local competition in Canberra to have been able to develop so many powerful AFLW players and coaches in such a short period of time," Bernasconi said.
"I get really excited to think now that we've got a genuine Giants Academy pathway in Canberra, that this talent is going to continue to evolve and grow.
"It's just going to get stronger and stronger. So I think that Canberra footy has been a bit of a pioneer for players and coaches to be exposed to the AFLW level."
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The dream began for Bernasconi back in 2013 when he became an AFL coaching clinic trainee.
From there he was appointed the ACT's talent and coaching manager, before he moved into a coaching role with the Giants Academy and later took on the Academy's head coaching gig in 2020.
His love for the game started at Tuggeranong Football Club as a junior on the field. In his senior career, the former Canberra Demons player suited up for three NEAFL clubs and competed in the top ACT competition for Ainslie until recently.
Bernasconi's coaching philosophy has been heavily shaped by both his own experience as a player and his mentors - Jason Saddington, Steve Maher and Darren Denneman.
"My biggest learning that I can correlate between playing and coaching is that I played on the fear of failure at a high level. So when I went through the pathway systems, I played on the fear of not getting dropped and holding my spot," he said.
"So that's something that I really want to make sure these players don't have. I want them to play on the fear of 'this could be my best game' or the 'what ifs' are all positive.
"I'm extremely passionate about my coaching philosophy around a positive learning environment, but I am extremely competitive too. So I'm actually really excited to have this opportunity at this level."
The Giants finished ninth in the recent season, but Bernasconi will only have until August to set his side up for the next AFLW season.
Essendon, Hawthorn, Port Adelaide and Sydney will be included in the next edition, marking the first time all 18 clubs have been represented in the women's competition.
The Giants coach said he knew they may lose some players to expansion sides, especially the other Sydney based team the Swans, but he was not worried.
A number of players have already announced their intention to leave, including Lisa Steane, Ally Morphett, and Bec Privitelli. In addition to Katie Loynes retiring.
"There's some really strong top-end talent on the AFLW list. So absolutely I think the girls will have a successful program leading into this year," he said.
"We want players to become better footballers but also better people while at our club and foster a high-performance, but highly enjoyable environment.
"We know we don't have any time to waste, with the next season likely just months away, and I'm excited for our journey together."
Isobel Cootes
Sports reporter at The Canberra Times. A Novocastrian with a passion for football (or soccer as they call it in the capital) via The Examiner and The Port Lincoln Times.
Sports reporter at The Canberra Times. A Novocastrian with a passion for football (or soccer as they call it in the capital) via The Examiner and The Port Lincoln Times.
