AFL News 2023: Sacked GWS development coach Robbie Chancellor replaced by Jason Davenport

Forced into a late coaching change, GWS has moved to appoint a former Carlton development coach. DANIEL CHERNY has the details.

Greater Western Sydney has bolstered its coaching panel barely a fortnight out from the start of the season, appointing former Port Adelaide player and Carlton development coach Jason Davenport as its new head of development.

The Giants had been forced into a late search following the sacking Robbie Chancellor from the head of development role last month after he pleaded guilty to a drug possession charge.

GWS, keen to adequately support its younger players, sought to replace Chancellor and is understood to have settled on Davenport, 37, who played 28 games for the Power more than a decade ago having also spent time on Geelong’s list.

Davenport was a member of Brendon Bolton and David Teague’s coaching panels at the Blues before being let go as part of Covid-19 cost-cutting. He has most recently coached the Oakleigh Chargers as well as Vic Metro under-18s. His move to the AFL system so late in the pre-season will leave the AFL scrambling to find a new coach for the Chargers, who regularly supply a host of draftees.

GWS significantly overhauled its coaching staff under new senior coach Adam Kingsley, with Ben Hart, Brett Montgomery, Craig Jennings, Jeremy Laidler and Shane Mumford supporting the former Richmond assistant, alongside VFL coach Wayne Cripps and development coach Alicia Eva, who is also the Giants’ AFLW captain.

Chancellor has landed an assistant coaching spot at VFL club Port Melbourne, supporting his former St Kilda colleague Adam Skrobalak.

Daniel ChernyStaff writer

Daniel Cherny is a Melbourne sportswriter, focusing on AFL and cricket. Having started his career at Back Page Lead, Daniel spent eight years at The Age, during which time he covered Australian Test cricket tours of Bangladesh and the UAE, as well as the 2016 Rio Olympics. He has been recognised for both his AFL and cricket writing, including winning the Clinton Grybas Rising Star Award at the 2019 Australian Football Media Association Awards. He is also a compulsive Simpsons quoter.