Scott Gowans was appointed AFLW senior coach and head of women’s coaching development in February 2022, ahead of the Sydney Swans inaugural AFLW season. As the senior coach of North Melbourne’s first AFLW side, Gowans led North to 11 wins from 14 games in 2019-2020. He has also held AFLW assistant coaching roles at both Carlton and Collingwood, most recently overseeing the Magpie’s midfield.  

Prior to the commencement of the AFLW, Gowans served as the inaugural head coach of the Dandenong Stingrays women’s academy. He also coached the Victorian Country team to a national title at the 2017 AFL Youth Girls National Championships, and in the same year he coached Diamond Creek to a grand final appearance in the VFL Women’s competition. 

Gowans was at the helm when the AFLW side kicked off it's 2023 campaign, a season opening clash with it's cross-town rivals the GWS Giants, as the thousands in attendance at North Sydney Oval on September 3, 2023 witnessed the ecstatic scenes spill out onto the middle of the field as the red and white sang the team song for the first time. A truly memorable day for the Sydney Swans.

The AFLW side went on to secure it's first finals berth that season, claiming a memorable Elimination Final victory over the Gold Coast Suns.