The Sydney Swans have announced an experienced AFLW coach to lead their women's team ahead of their first season in the competition.
Scott Gowans, who was also the inaugural senior coach of North Melbourne's AFLW team when they entered the competition in 2019, was announced on Friday.
Gowans led North Melbourne AFLW to 11 wins from 14 games before the club controversially elected not to renew his contract to cut costs because of the Coronavirus pandemic.
READ: North Melbourne sack AFLW coach Scott Gowans in cost-cutting move
To take up the role, Gowans has left his role as an assistant coach in Collingwood's AFLW program, where he was leading the midfield, with immediate effect.
Gowans, who has also served time as an assistant in Carlton's AFLW program, said he was "honoured" to be appointed.
"It's a great opportunity to be a senior coach at the Sydney Swans and I'm honoured to be able to coach the club's first AFLW team," he said.
In addition to his time at the elite level, Gowans also has significant experience coaching in junior women's football.
He served as the inaugural head coach of the Dandenong Stingray's women's academy, coached the Victorian Country team at the 2017 Youth Girls National Championships and led Diamond Creek to the grand final in the VFL women's competition in the same season.
Gowans has also been appointed the Swans' Head of Women's Coaching Development, something he is "really passionate" about.
"Part of my role will be focused on developing coaches and I'm keen to ensure I'm setting that legacy straight away. I've been very big on helping female coaches develop and I've taken over 20 coaches through to their level two course as a mentor," he said.
"It's something I'm really passionate about."
Collingwood, who earlier this week announced dual-code star Ash Brazill would not play this season as she focuses on representing Australia in the Commonwealth Games, congratulated Gowans on his appointment but said he would be "sorely missed".
READ: Dual-code Collingwood star pulls pin on AFLW campaign
"On behalf of the club, we would like to congratulate Scott on his new role," Collingwood's Head of Women's Football, Jess Burger, said.
"Scott's wealth of knowledge and experience will hold him in good stead in pursuing this new opportunity. While he will be sorely missed, this is a fantastic opportunity that we know he has been working towards."
Scott Selwood will step into Gowans' role at Collingwood for the remainder of the season.
The former Geelong and West Coast player holds the same position in the club's men's program.
