MUAFC would like to take this opportunity to thanks and pay tribute to Dan Ranson, who has decided to step down from his coaching role following the 2014 season.
‘Docker’ took the reigns of the MUAFC womens team in 2012, implementing plans to not only improve the team’s performance, but also to maintain the strong social culture and positive attitude amongst the group. He was instrumental in creating a focused, competitive football side who would go on to achieve above and beyond what the club had expected.
In his first season as coach, the improvement amongst the side was immediate, as he coached Macquarie to 7 wins from 14 matches, narrowly missing a finals berth. The season highlight was undoubtedly the sides maiden victory over Sydney University at St Paul’s Oval in round 8. It should be noted that the selected team on the day contained 15 players playing in their first season with the club – a deserved result for Dan’s early work with the team and individuals who he was also assisting in his spare time.
In 2013, The Sydney competition was split into two womens divisions, with Macquarie University being placed in division 2. Docker’s dedication to the team continued as he worked to further develop the skills of the core playing group and nurtured new talent over the off season. He saw immediate success in round 1, where the team recorded a 130-0 defeat of Auburn. It was the first time that the womens team had scored over 100 points in a match and also the first time they had held an opponent scoreless. It was the first of many milestones in what was a dream season for the Warrior Women. They went through to become undefeated premiers, winning 17 straight matches. One of the more impressive statistics that Ranson can lay claim to, is that from those 17 victories, where his team scored 1,823 points, a total of 91 points were conceded by his defensive structure. It truly was a dream season for Dan and his team as they delivered the womens maiden premiership to MUAFC. Dan received Coach of the Year at MUAFC and was nominated for Coach of the Year at Macquarie University Sports Awards.
With the side making the step to Division 1 in 2014, Dan and the Warriors took to the task early. The women went through pre season with determination to improve their skills and fitness in order to make their mark in the top division. Round 2 produced the team’s first win, as the Warriors fought their way through, defeating 4 more Division 1 clubs for the first time in the team’s history. A tough slog through the middle of the season saw the Warrior Women produce a string of losses, however Docker’s words rang through their heads “play good footy and the results will take care of themselves”. Their round 12 win against UNSW was the turning point in the season, as they won 3 from their last 4 regular games, and cemented a place in the finals. A fantastic achievement, which surprised many at Sydney AFL. A narrow loss in the qualifying final ended their season, and Dan’s impressive time at the helm of the women’s team.
The way that Dan applied himself to the task is an absolute credit to him as a person - his results completely exceeded all expectations of those at MUAFC and has turned a few heads amongst Sydney AFL. Macquarie University now stand as serious contenders for a Division One premiership in the coming years. The club wishes to thank Docker for his effort and achievement and the women’s playing group would like to thank him for his commitment and friendship during his time as coach, and we look forward to supporting him through his future football & personal endeavours.
Coaching Career 2012-2014: 30 wins, 17 losses. Coaching Highlights: Sydney Women’s division 2 premiership 2013, Macquarie University AFL Club Coach of the Year 2013, Nomination for Coach of the Year 2013 Macquarie University Sports Awards, Sydney Women’s Representative team Assistant Coach 2014, Nomination for Sydney Women’s coach of the year in 2013, 2014.
Last Modified on 20/03/2017 21:04