Paul Groves (Australian coach)

Paul Groves
Groves in February 2017
Personal information
Full name Paul Groves
Date of birth 1982 (age 41–42)
Coaching career3
Years Club Games (W–L–D)
2017–2019 Western Bulldogs (W) 22 (10–12–0)
3 Coaching statistics correct as of 2019.
Career highlights

Paul Groves is a former Australian rules football coach who served as the head coach of the Western Bulldogs in the AFL Women's competition (AFLW) between 2017 and 2019 including to the club's first AFLW premiership in 2018.

Coaching career

Early days

After playing amateur football at St Bedes/Mentone under future Western Bulldogs premiership coach Luke Beveridge between 2006 and 2008, Groves himself took up coaching football for the first time.[1]

Groves first started coaching the women's game in 2011, when he assisted the AFL Victoria youth girls development team at the national championships that year.[1] In 2013 he went on to become the head coach of the national championship winning Victorian Metropolitan girls side.[2]

At the same time Groves worked in assistant roles in the youth boys game at the Sandringham Dragons before filling a similar position at the Calder Cannons in 2014.[1]

In 2015 and 2016 he worked as the head coach of the Monash Blues in the Victorian Amateur Football Association.[2]

He has also worked as the director of sport at Salesian College between 2010 and 2016.[2] And is now the head of sport At St Bernards College

AFL Women's

Groves was appointed as the inaugural head coach of the Western Bulldogs's AFL Women's side in June 2016.[3]

He coached the side to two wins from seven matches in the league's inaugural season in 2017.

In June 2019 he stepped aside from coaching in order to pursue a teaching job.[4]

Coaching statistics

Legend
 W  Wins  L  Losses  D  Draws  W%  Winning percentage  LP  Ladder position  LT  League teams
Season Team Games W L D W % LP LT
2017 Western Bulldogs 7 2 5 0 29% 6 8
2018# Western Bulldogs 8 6 2 0 75% 1 8
2019 Western Bulldogs 7 2 5 0 29% 5 (conf.) 5 (conf.)
Career totals 22 10 12 0 45%

References

  1. ^ a b c Amy, Paul (29 August 2016). "Former amateur star Paul Groves says he's thrilled to be involved in 'football story in the making'". Herald Sun. News Corp Australia. Chelsea Leader. Retrieved 23 January 2018.
  2. ^ a b c Schmook, Nathan (23 August 2016). "Paul Groves appointed women's head coach". Western Bulldogs. Telstra Media. AFL Media. Retrieved 23 January 2018.
  3. ^ Harrington, Anna (23 August 2016). "Western Bulldogs appoint Paul Groves as inaugural women's team coach and football manager". Fox Sports. News Corp Australia. Retrieved 23 January 2018.
  4. ^ Black, Sarah (17 June 2019). "Dogs flag coach resigns after three years at helm". AFL Media. Telstra Media. Retrieved 17 June 2019.
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