Assistant coaches Daniel McKenzie and Ryan Pendlebury are among six new inclusions to the North Melbourne Tasmanian Kangaroos’ coaching panel for the upcoming AFLW season.

McKenzie, who played 73 games across nine seasons for St Kilda, will work with the forward line after Sam Wright departed Arden Street to take up the AFLW senior coach role at Collingwood.

Pendlebury - an experienced VFL player, current senior coach of Euroa in the Goulburn Valley Football League and brother of Collingwood veteran Scott - will work with the Kangaroos’ midfield following the departure of Brad Murphy.

Also new to the coaching panel in 2024 are North Melbourne veteran Hugh Greenwood, who will support the program as a specialist coach, and former Tiger Meagan Kiely, who joins as part of the club’s female coach graduate program.

No stranger to Arden Street, Kiely captained the club’s VFLW side in 2021 before receiving her opportunity at AFLW level with Richmond.

Development coaches Chloe Laan and Tahni Nestor round out the new inclusions. Laan joins from Essendon’s VFLW program while former Roo and Blue Nestor takes on the coaching role alongside her role as player development coordinator.

Senior coach Darren Crocker will enter his fifth season at the helm and will again be supported by senior assistant coach and head of football performance Rhys Harwood. Nick Devereux will also continue as an assistant coach, working with the backline, as well as taking on the role of head of player performance.

North Melbourne general manager of women’s football Erin Lorenzini welcomed the mix of experience and fresh perspectives the coaches would bring the Kangaroos in 2024.

“We’re excited to appoint six new coaches to our ranks for the upcoming season,” Lorenzini said.

“Daniel offers a wealth of experience from his time in the AFL system, as does Ryan from his time playing at VFL level and now coaching at Euroa. We’re also equally excited about the fresh perspectives Hugh, Meagan, Chloe and Tahni will bring to our program.

“We’re committed to providing the best possible resources and support for our players and we can’t wait to see what they can achieve this season under this group of coaches.”

2024 AFLW coaching panel

Senior coach – Darren Crocker
Senior assistant coach and head of football performance – Rhys Harwood
Assistant coach (defenders) and head of player performance – Nick Devereux 
Assistant coach (midfielders) – Ryan Pendlebury
Assistant coach (forwards) – Daniel McKenzie
Specialist coach (midfielders and talls) – Hugh Greenwood
Development coach (defenders) – Chloe Laan
Development coach (forwards) – Tahni Nestor
Female coach graduate program – Meagan Kiely 
Opposition and football performance coach – Cam Morris
Football performance coordinator – Regan Kerslake