Richmond’s star centre half forward Katie Brennan will lead the AFLW Tigers for a fifth straight season after receiving another glowing endorsement from the Club.
Brennan and Adelaide’s Chelsea Randall are the competition’s longest-serving captains, each remaining in the role for every season since the AFLW’s inception.
The 30-year-old leads on and off the field, with her exceptional record of 51 goals from 42 games and dual All-Australian status just a small part of her all-round leadership package that has been celebrated in Women’s Football for close to a decade.
Brennan will be joined in the leadership group by new vice-captain Gabby Seymour, who has been voted in by her teammates.
Seymour has not missed any of Richmond’s 37 games in the AFLW competition and has three podium finishes in the Club’s AFLW best and fairest since being added to the list as a cross-code rookie from volleyball via the VFLW program.
The 26-year-old’s leadership style has been profound, with the astute thinker making her mark right across the industry- as well as on the training track where she displays elite habits.
Seymour is Richmond’s AFL Players Association representative and was one of six delegates representing all AFLW players in the Season 7 AFLW CBA, which saw a 94% increase in player wages and progress in employment terms.
The newly appointed vice-captain was also an influential voice through the AFLPA in the AFL’s decision to mandate the removal of white shorts for female athletes in the competition.
Outside of the AFL, Seymour is an Ambassador for the Victorian Government’s Change Our Game initiative, designed to encourage the sport and recreation sector to challenge gender stereotypes and help women and girls to become leaders.
Monique Conti, Sarah Hosking and Bec Miller will all remain in the Club’s AFLW leadership group, while Tessa Lavey has been voted into the role by the group for the first time.
Conti, 23, and a superstar of the competition, has developed into a wonderful leader for the Tigers, captaining the team on multiple occasions in recent seasons. Her reappointment to the leadership group speaks glowingly of her increasing credentials.
Hosking has been a part of the Tigers leadership groups since joining the Club in 2021; she remains a driver of the Club’s standards, along with Miller, who her peers have backed for a second straight season.
Lavey’s importance off-field despite a season-ending toe injury has been further stated by her elevation to the group.
The 30-year-old will draw on her experiences from an elite sporting career that dates to her teenage years through her new leadership position.
Lavey, a dual Olympian basketballer, has been a mainstay in Richmond’s team across her 25 AFLW matches.
Richmond AFLW senior coach Ryan Ferguson said the voting process, facilitated by Culture & Leadership coach Liz Quinn, showed "consistent results across the board" and stability, but also freshness and vibrancy.
"Our program is better for having Katie a part of it. She started out a very good captain, but every year she gets better. She demonstrates the growth mindset that we all want to have, she is so hungry to improve herself and drive by her actions," Ferguson said.
"There was an overwhelming amount of comments that said Gabby is driving standards, living our values and leaves no stone unturned to get the best out of herself and the group. The decision to have her as our vice-captain was unanimous.
"Tessa is the ultimate professional who has a wealth of experience and is highly respected and valued amongst our playing group. We're thrilled to be able to reward her and despite her long-term injury, we know she'll be able to help this group move forward.
"We're really excited to have Monique, Sarah and Bec continue in their roles, showing that stability. The three of them have all shown individual growth as a powerful force to drive us forward."
Richmond 2023 AFLW Leadership Group:
Kate Brennan (captain)
Gabby Seymour (vice-captain)
Monique Conti
Rebecca Miller
Sarah Hosking
Tessa Lavey
