13 November, 2026
Collegians Football Club is delighted to announce the appointment of Laura Murphy as Senior Women’s Head Coach for the 2027 season, as the Lions prepare to field a standalone Women’s team.
A familiar face within the Collegians community, Laura first represented the Senior Women’s team in 2017 and 2018 and brings a lifelong passion for football, a strong understanding of the game and a genuine commitment to the development of women’s sport.
Having spent the past two years coaching junior girls at Prahran Junior Football Club, Laura has continued to play an active role in developing the next generation of female footballers.
Laura returned to the Collegians coaching group in 2026 as Development Coach, working closely with the playing group before stepping into the role of Interim Co-Coach midway through the season. Her leadership, commitment and contribution throughout the year have positioned her strongly to take the next step as Senior Women’s Head Coach.
Reflecting on her connection to Collegians, Laura shared:
“As a sports-mad OW who absolutely cherished the sporting opportunities Wesley gave me, joining Collegians definitely feels like coming home. Back in the 90s, playing footy wasn’t an option for girls, so it means so much to me to be able to play a small part in bringing to life my childhood AFL dream for today’s generation of young women.”
Laura's appointment marks an important step forward for the Collegians Women's Program as we work towards establishing a competitive, inclusive and sustainable standalone team in 2027.
With a strong focus on player development, recruitment, retention and building a positive team culture, Laura will play a central role in creating an environment where players of all experience levels can develop, enjoy their football and contribute to the club's future.
We congratulate Laura on her appointment and look forward to an exciting new chapter for our Senior Women's Program in 2027.
