The GWS Giants have announced Adam Kingsley as the club’s next AFL senior coach.
A highly-rated assistant coach, Kingsley won the race to replace Leon Cameron ahead of interim coach Mark McVeigh and Melbourne assistant Adem Yze.
Kingsley played 170 AFL matches for Port Adelaide before quickly moving into coaching following his playing career, immediately taking up assistant coaching roles with Port Adelaide and then St Kilda.
After eight years with the Saints, Kingsley joined Richmond as assistant coach in 2019 where he played a large role in the Tigers’ last two premierships.
Giants CEO David Matthews said Kingsley’s appointment marked the next chapter in the evolution of the football club.
“On behalf of the Board and our entire organisation, I’m thrilled to confirm Adam Kingsley as our new head coach,” Mr Matthews said.
“After a thorough and considered selection process, Adam’s vision for the club, our players and our people made him the standout candidate for the job.
“Adam has outstanding values that align with the Giants and with 16 years’ coaching experience he is an exceptional tactical coach, a strong, clear communicator, and someone who brings people together.
“In our 11 years in the competition we have undoubtedly become a successful club with a fantastic culture and a great playing list. But we haven’t been satisfied with our recent results.
“We – and Adam – believe success isn’t far away and we’re thrilled to have him lead us into our next chapter as a club.
“This is an incredibly exciting day for our club and Adam’s appointment will not only take our playing group and football department forward but will help continue to grow our game across NSW and the ACT.
“We look forward to welcoming Adam, his wife Nadine and children Cayla, Ethan and Raf to the Giants family.”
Mr Matthews also paid tribute to caretaker coach Mark McVeigh.
“We thank Mark for his efforts as interim senior coach and the tireless work he has contributed to our program since taking over in round 10,” Mr Matthews said.
“It’s a difficult job to come in as caretaker coach but he attacked the role with fresh ideas and sought to improve our players, staff and program at every step.
“Mark is a person of the highest integrity and character, and he has always put the club first. He was steadfast in leaving the program ready for whoever would be taking over.”
Kingsley said he was honoured to have the opportunity to coach the club for the next three years.
“This is an incredibly exciting opportunity,” he said.
“It’s a privilege and an honour to be the next senior coach of the Giants. I’ve been clear in my aspirations to become a senior coach and over the last 16 years I’ve continued to learn and develop to the point now where I’m absolutely ready to take the next step in my coaching career.
“This is a club which has built a strong culture from the ground up in just a few short years. In just 11 years the Giants have made multiple preliminary finals, and a Grand Final, and while the ultimate success has eluded the club, it’s clear the building blocks are in place.
“It’s clear the players, staff, members and fans are hungry for success, and we’re going to drive each other to get to where we want to go.
“I believe in this club and what we can achieve together.”
Kingsley played 170 games for Port Adelaide between 1997 and 2006 and was a member of the club’s inaugural team as well as their first Premiership in 2004. He won the Power’s club champion award in just his second season. In 2007, he became an assistant coach at Port Adelaide, a position in which he stayed in until the end of 2010. Kingsley joined St Kilda at the end of the 2010 season as an assistant coach before moving to Richmond in 2019.
