O'Neill - the head coach of Victoria Country's under-17 girls team this season - has been appointed as senior coach of Hawthorn's VFLW team.

She will be taking over from one of the sport's biggest names, AFLW trailblazer Bec Goddard, who led Adelaide to premiership glory in the inaugural season of the women's national competition, and has been appointed as the Hawks' AFLW coach.

O'Neill, who boasts an impressive coaching resume, most recently as an assistant coach under Danny O'Bree for the Pioneers' boys and girls programs, said following in the footsteps of such a revered figure in football was an obvious drawcard for her at the Hawks.

"I have been talking with Bec a bit and I have listened to a few of her talks and seminars and I love the way she talks and goes about things," she said.

"Her passion for women's football is amazing and I know I am going to learn a lot from her.

"Following the progression I have made here in Bendigo, I was just ready to make that next step.

"Everyone here has been very supportive and I really can't wait for the next part of the journey to begin."

O'Neill will take over a Hawks line-up, which finished the 2021 season with five wins from 14 games and missed the finals, but possesses plenty of upside.

"We've got a good list and a good set-up and obviously with a bit recruiting, we'll be in good shape," she said.

"I can't wait to work with strength and conditioning and to get things up and running.

"We've got a good core playing group."

Her appointment at Hawthorn continues a steady progression through the coaching ranks for O'Neill, whose first foray into coaching was in the junior ranks in Bendigo as coach of her sons' teams while still playing for Bendigo Thunder.

Following her on-field retirement, she coached the Thunder for two years in 2016 and 17 before joining the NAB League Pioneers in 2017-18 as a development coach in the boys program.

In 2018-19, she was the Pioneers boys' backline coach, and in 2019 also served as the forward line development coach at Essendon VFLW and head coach of Victoria Country's under-16 girls team.

O'Neill coached the Bendigo Pioneers under-18 girls in 2020 and was head coach of Victoria Country's under-18 girls team.

A hectic 2021 season saw her perform multiple roles, including assistant coach duties with the Pioneers boys and girls programs, head coach of the Victoria Country under-17 girls and assistant coach of the under-19 girls.

O'Neill described herself as 'fortunate' to have been involved with both the Pioneers and the Victorian under-age pathways program.

"I have had some great opportunities and it has really opened some doors for me and set me up for this opportunity," she said.

"I've always aspired to get to a higher level.

"I think back to my Thunder days, when we had that group of girls drafted (in 2016), it was an amazing pathway for those girls to get to play footy at the top level, and as I have progressed, I've thought how do I take my coaching to the next level too.

"I'm excited by this opportunity. The club has been so supportive and welcoming, I can't talk highly enough of them."

Goddard, who is back at the helm of an AFLW club for the first time since leading Adelaide in 2017-18, said O'Neill's wealth of experience in developing young girls throughout her coaching life would hold her in strong stead in her new role.

"Cherie's name is held in a really high regard in these development football programs," she said on the Hawthorn Football Club website.

"She has a wonderful understanding of how to get the best out of her players and how to create an environment where people can really grow.

"I'm really excited to work alongside her as we look to ensure Hawthorn makes waves in the women's football landscape."

READ MORE:

Cherie O'Neill to coach Pioneers' girls program

Mum's back on the ball with Bendigo Thunder Football Club

Emma Grant takes on AFLW development coaching role at Richmond

Our journalists work hard to provide local, up-to-date news to the community. This is how you can access our trusted content: