CARLTON AFLW assistant coach Shannon McFerran is one of 33 women selected in the Australian Institute of Sport (AIS) and Sport Australia’s new female talent programs.

The two programs, for high-performance coaching and sport executives respectively, will aim to help drive greater diversity and address the under-representation of females in Australian sport.

McFerran, who was chosen from more than 250 applicants, will impart her knowledge in the 17-member coaching program. She said she’s “very excited” to participate in the program.

“It’s something that the AIS have put together to further females in sport,” McFerran said.

“I’m really looking forward to being a part of it.”

As the only AFLW coach selected, McFerran will bring unique knowledge to the program. She carries the story of a generation of female footballers.

“I share the same story as females in AFL who couldn’t play after 12,” she said.

“I didn’t have the opportunity to play until I was old enough for women’s football. It’s unique in that kind of way.

“I’ve also experienced working full-time because football wasn’t a professional sport. I’ve done this on the side with my secondary teaching job.”

After attending a forum with Carlton General Manager of Women’s Football Nicole Graves, McFerran was inspired to leave an impact on female coaching. So, she decided to apply for the AIS and Sport Australia program.

“[Female coaching] is an area that needs development,” she said.

“There’s questions around why we don’t have female coaches in elite sporting environments.

“I felt that it would be a great opportunity to gain more of an insight into how we could change the landscape (for women in coaching).”

When the AFLW began, it provided female footballers a chance to compete at an elite level. Equally as important, women were given the opportunity to coach, with Bec Goddard and Michelle Cowan appointed coaches of Adelaide and Fremantle respectively for the first season of AFLW.

But both Goddard and Cowan resigned from their roles at the end of the 2018 season, leaving no female representation in head coaching roles across the AFLW.

McFerran believes it is the pathway affecting women’s chances at reaching the top level of coaching.

“I think that women aren’t given the same pathway for development,” she said.

“The landscape hasn’t always been full of women. I’m looking forward to being able to change that and help women get to the elite level of coaching."