Lisa Alexander Wants to Be the 1st Female AFL Coach — Meet the Former Diamonds Coach

Former Netball coach Lisa Alexander is vying for a pivotal post as the first woman to coach the Australian Football League. Here is a look into her years of expertise.

Lisa Alexander has years of experience as a netball coach from junior level through high school coaching and state-level management. Presently, the sports expert is looking into furthering her career as the Australian Football League Coach. (AFL)

If Alexander can achieve this feat, she will become the first woman to coach AFL. Alexander is a bonafide physical and health education teacher who doubles as a mathematician.

Her vast knowledge in sports also includes her stint as a physical education lecturer for undergraduate students and an author who writes textbooks. Her years of coaching have made her master an intricate knowledge of individual team members to help them win competitions.

New updates about her ambitions show that Alexander applied to be the head coach of Melbourne Football Club following the retirement of the team's former coach.

After 2011's World Netball Championship campaign, Alexander took over coaching the Australian Diamonds from Norma Plummer, making her the 14th Australian national coach. She led the team to victory in four Constellation Cup series against New Zealand Silver Ferns.

She led the Diamonds to their gold medal victory at the 2014 Commonwealth games, which brought Australia back to the spotlight after twelve years of no triumph at the international competitions.

Now that she has her eyes on AFL, it is safe to say that her qualification level is top-notch. After ten years and 102 matches with the Diamonds, she is ready to move on to men's competition, where she believes she could add immeasurable values. She said about her decision to be part of AFL:

"I've always thought I could add to the defensive knowledge… I think a lot of the one-on-one contests and the coaching of that fine art of the defence in those contests, I think I can add a lot to…"

The sports icon reflected on the gender issues associated with the sports world. She noted that while growing up, she could not play football and cricket, as she added that she was glad times have evolved.

New updates about her ambitions show that Alexander applied to be the head coach of Melbourne Football Club following the retirement of the team's former coach, Rhyce Shaw. However, her application was rejected because she was deemed not to have much experience in the sport.

The star sportswoman has vast knowledge and dexterity in netball, but her football expertise is not known; therefore, the team's management decided she was not fit for the position. Despite the setback, Alexander is not fazed as she continues to reach for her goal.