Create an experience with Bec Goddard

Bec Goddard OAM is a passionate advocate for diversity and equality in Australian sport and holds the rare title of holding coaching success in two elite women's sports- the AFLW and WNBL.

Bec is the inaugural AFLW Premiership coach of the Adelaide Crows coaching players split across South Australia and the Northern Territory for the first two seasons of the AFLW while working full-time for the Australian Federal Police (AFP).

Bec's ability to bring together diverse groups of people and motivate them towards a common goal was most notably demonstrated at the Crows where not only was the team made up of individuals who were, in some cases, new to the game, they were largely unfamiliar with an elite sports environment and also worked or studied full-time. Bec found innovative approaches to overcoming both the geographical and cultural challenges that ultimately created a successful winning environment.

On the football field she has been a premiership-winning player as well as coach in community football, and in 2009 became the first female to umpire a state league game in the North-East Australian Football League (NEAFL).

In 2017, Bec was named AFLW All-Australian coach, South Australian Sports Coach of the Year and AFL Football Woman of the Year.

Bec was recruited as an Assistant Coach to the University of Canberra (UC) Capitals for the 2018/2019 Women’s National Basketball League (WNBL) season and was engaged to drive cultural change for a team that finished the previous season in last place and had not made WNBL finals in eight seasons. The UC Capitals won the 2018/2019 WNBL Championship.

Bec has championed the rights of women and young girls to play the sport they choose having equal opportunity to engage at the highest level.

In 2021, Bec was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia for service to Australian rules football, and to women in sport.

Bec became the inaugural AFLW Head Coach of the Hawthorn Football Club in 2022 when the AFL completed the last phase of AFLW expansion. She has now set up two AFLW clubs in their founding seasons.

Bec is the AFLW Head Coach at the Hawthorn Football Club, entering the AFLW in 2022.