YJFL welcomes back Penny Cula-Reid and Jules Hay to lead women and girls coaching in 2027
The Yarra Junior Football League (YJFL) is thrilled to welcome back Penny Cula-Reid and Jules Hay as Women and Girls Coaching Consultants for the 2027 season. Both have worked with the League before, and their return reflects the YJFL's commitment to developing confident coaches, improving the experience for girls and creating pathways for women into coaching and leadership.
Penny is one of the most accomplished figures in women's football. She played more than 250 games for the St Kilda Sharks, including as captain, represented Victoria seven times, earned five All-Australian selections and played in the inaugural AFLW season with Collingwood in 2017. As a coach, she was named VFLW Coach of the Year in 2018 and led Collingwood to the 2019 VFLW premiership. As a teenager, she was part of a landmark discrimination case that helped open football to junior girls.
Jules brings more than 25 years of experience in education and sport. A Level 3 AFL-accredited coach, she has coached at community, school and high-performance levels, including with Williamstown's VFLW program and the Collingwood Next Generation Academy. Through her consultancy, Coaching Jewlz, she supports women and girls in sport, with a focus on building the confidence of female coaches.
In 2027, Penny and Jules will:
run a Female Development Day in late February, bringing together female coaches and coaches of female teams from across the YJFL for an afternoon of professional learning and collaboration
deliver 10 club development sessions at YJFL clubs, providing tailored coaching support to junior girls' teams, with clubs invited to submit expressions of interest
head coach the YJFL Under 14 and Under 15 girls' representative squads
mentor recipients of the Women's Coaching Scholarship Program
contribute to the YJFL Women and Girls Sub-Committee
Welcome back, Penny and Jules!
