After three years as Collingwood GM of Women’s Sport, experienced sports administrator Jane Woodlands-Thompson will finish up at the Holden Centre.

Woodlands-Thompson has overseen four women’s sports programs at Collingwood – two netball two women’s football - and the club has decided to create two independent roles to oversee the women’s football and netball programs.

“It was a privilege to be in the inaugural role but with the growth of both codes and increasingly overlapping seasons the role now needs two dedicated roles to do both programs justice” Woodlands-Thompson said.

“It’s been an exciting and rewarding three years and both programs are in good shape to achieve future success.

“I am looking forward to watching both programs flourish while I have a break before I move onto my next challenge.”

Woodlands-Thompson has overseen excellent growth in the AFLW program – the team reached the preliminary final this year and played finals for the first time in 2020 - and a rebirth of the netball operation which saw the Magpies narrowly miss finals last month.

 “Our athletes and staff, across netball and AFLW, made great progress in an extremely challenging time for all sports. I will always be so proud of their resilience, dedication and sense of purpose,” she said.

“I wish Collingwood all the best and thank the club for the opportunity to work at one of Australia’s premier sporting Clubs.”

Collingwood CEO Mark Anderson thanked Woodlands-Thompson for her dedication to a unique and important role at Collingwood that, at the time of her appointment, was completely new.

 “Jane took on a challenge. It was a role that recognized how important the women’s teams are to modern Collingwood. She was the first and she will always be recognized for resetting both of our programs in circumstances made incredibly difficult by COVID,” Anderson said.

“Jane helped weave both programs into the fabric of the club, strengthened their place and leaves them well positioned for success. Collingwood thanks her, and her family for the sacrifices they made, and wishes them well.”

With Woodlands-Thompson departing, Collingwood will take the opportunity to reposition netball within the club’s structure by creating a more autonomous business that will be overseen by a dedicated GM of Netball.