Chris Howie

Year Coached: 2020

At the end of the 2020 season Chris Howie resigned due to a need to focus on his other work commitments. It would be understandable if, on reflecting back on his season in charge, Howie had a moment of wishing he’d had a crystal ball when he was appointed. 

Howie took over from the successful inaugural (and premiership) coach, Steve Symonds, following his appointment as head coach of the women’s team at the Collingwood Football Club. Symonds had finished with the minor premiership in 2019, but the team exited the finals campaign in straight sets. There was a lot of upside to taking over this team. But Howie also inherited a team that had lost Najwa Allen (2019 Best and Fairest and League Best and Fairest), along with Hannah Dunn and Hannah Priest to the AFLW draft, and the retirement of Jo Hill (Norwood’s leading goalkicker in 2019). 

Howie’s football background came from coaching Nairne Bremer’s women’s team in the Hills Football League, and he also spent time as the Director of Women’s Football Development on the Hills Football League’s Board – after a decade of coaching junior boys teams and girls development squads. 

At the time of his appointment as coach, Howie stated that “My game plan is relatively attacking, making sure we focus on what we have done right over the past three years and adding on what we can.” 

Football Operations Manager Mark Ross said that Howie “has a brilliant strategic mind and brings a strong focus on personal development and culture which is important. We are confident that under his tutelage the women and girls involved with our Club will continue to progress and excel both on and off the field.”

The 2020 season was like no other since perhaps the last World War. Covid struck after Round 5 and the women had a forced interruption of three months to their season, due to Covid protocols around social distancing as well as lockdowns. The disruption was a serious whole-of-club and whole-of-league challenge affecting everyone on and off the field, as well as cashflows. No games also meant no supporters, and no supporters meant no cashflow. 

At the end of the minor round, Howie had coached the team in ten games, winning half of them and for the first time in the history of the women’s team, having not one but two draws (against West Adelaide and Sturt). This was enough to secure third place. However, their opponents in the first semi final were West Adelaide (whom they had one draw with during the season), and on the day West beat the Lady Legs by 43 points and Norwood were eliminated, finishing fourth for the season. 

At the time of the announcement of his resignation, Howie spoke glowingly of his time at Norwood and in particular the development of the team moving forward.

“I really loved my time here at Norwood. It was a little bit tough early taking over from such a successful coach as Steve Symonds, however, the professionalism in which the girls approached playing for Norwood was outstanding. I think the team is really well-positioned for 2021 and have what it takes to have success very soon.”

A challenging season it was, but arguably Howie did lay some solid groundwork for the following season as in 2021, the team won the minor premiership under Howie’s successor, Mat Creeper. Although the club was keen for Howie to stay involved in some capacity in 2021, it wasn’t to be. 

Chris Brown, December 2024

2020 Coaching Record:

Coached in 10 minor round games; 5 wins, 2 draws and 3 losses.
Coached in one final; 1 loss. 
Finished the minor round in 3rd; finished the season in 4th. 

2020 Coaching Staff and Volunteers:

League Coach: Chris Howie
Assistant Coach: Brendan O’Donnell
Assistant Coach: Jane Fitzgerald
Assistant Coach: Tim McMahon
Assistant Coach: Gregg Dearman
Fitness Coach: Tim McMahon
Runner: Samantha Newman
Team Managers: Sarah Thompson, Amy Pawlowski
Football Director: Cat Rugari
Head Trainer: Denis Sella-Gianot
Doctors: Dr A. McDonald and Dr S. Vanlint
Physiotherapist: Emma Gericke


Chris Brown, January 2025