Rodan moves into women’s coaching role as Mines Rovers pursue back-to-back flags

Mines Rovers’ defence of the Goldfields Football League’s women’s premiership in 2025 will be made with a new coach at the helm following Russell Rodan’s appointment this week.

He replaces Quinny Matla after this year guiding the Diorites’ Year 9-10 squad to the flag.

The pursuit of back-to-back women’s success is just the latest challenge for Rodan in a long playing and coaching career at Mines Rovers.

As a player, Rodan lined up in the blue-and-whites’ 1996 colts premiership team and was also a member of three reserves premierships.

Eventually turning his attention to coaching, Rodan guided the club to the colts flag in 2012.

Matla stood down in August after leading the Diorites to a maiden GFLW flag this year, with an eight-point triumph over Railways in the grand final, 3.0 (18) to 1.4 (10).

It was the culmination of a dominant season for Mines Rovers, whose 16 games in the qualifying series yielded 14 wins.

It followed an uncertain start when nine players from the 2023 squad did not return, and the season-opener against Boulder was marred by an eight-point defeat.

But after a round-five draw with Railways, the blue-and-whites hit their straps to win the next 14 games, going on to win the second semifinal by 17 points.

Alongside senior coach Mark Johnstone and Rodan, Chris Strano and Jason Boyd will lead the club’s reserves and colts squads, respectively, next year.

Jeff Delbridge continues as president, with Justin Stevens his deputy.