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Richmond have announced the appointment of Ryan Ferguson as the club’s AFLW senior coach for the 2021 season.

The Tigers finished the 2020 AFLW season winless and had sacked inaugural coach Tom Hunter in May, leaving the club without a senior coach in months.

Ferguson told the Richmond website that he was excited about the women’s program and continuing on the work they started this year.

“I have taken a keen interest in this program over the years, so it is familiar to me, I am really excited to join the team,” he said.

“It’s exciting to have the opportunity to coach this particular group, there are so many great people in the program already.”

Heading into 2021, Ferguson wants to build a team environment and is fixed on getting the best out of his players.

“There’s a lot of fun that goes along with that, but also direction and high standards. We want to drive some really elite habits within the group,” he said.

“The girls have put in a power of work already… There seems to be a lot of excitement around.

“The girls have been amazing with reaching out and messaging me to make me feel welcome and to show how excited they are and how hard they have been working.”

Richmond’s head of Women’s Football, Kate Sheahan, told the Richmond website that the club is keen to see what Ferguson can do with the playing list.

“Our players will greatly benefit by having a coach of his caliber with a proven track record of developing players,” she said.

“He has fantastic relationships with the AFL program and its players and staff… We are excited about the connections to be built between the two programs moving forward.”

Ferguson has already had plenty of history at the Tigers, joining Richmond as an assistant in 2015, having had a hand in the development of the younger players as well as working with the Tigers’ backline.

As a player, Ferguson played 47 games in the AFL for Melbourne, before heading to the SANFL, where he captained West Adelaide and won three club best and fairests across five seasons.