The Sydney Swans congratulate Kate Mahony on her appointment as the Performance Director at Chelsea FC Women.
Mahony, who has been Executive General Manager, AFLW at the Sydney Swans since 2022, will relocate to the UK and take up the role in October.
Having joined the Swans ahead of the AFLW team’s inaugural season, Mahony was instrumental building the women’s program from the ground up.
After leading the establishment of the team, Mahoney has overseen significant growth both on and off the field, helping lay the foundations for long-term success and fostering a high-performance environment.
Sydney Swans CEO Matthew Pavlich thanked Mahony for her dedication and commitment.
“Kate’s passion for women’s sport is immense and her unwavering commitment to our players and staff has been a defining feature of her leadership,” Pavlich said.
“She was pivotal in building our AFLW program and did so with sheer hard work and determination under tight time constraints ahead of our first season.
"Since then, Kate has established a high-performance environment, building the strong foundations that will support the program’s success for years to come.
“This is a significant opportunity with one of the world’s leading sporting organisations, so while Kate will be greatly missed, we are incredibly proud of what she has achieved and thrilled for her and her family as they embark on this next chapter.
“On behalf of everyone at the Sydney Swans, I thank Kate for her outstanding contribution to our club and wish her every success at Chelsea.”
Mahony said she was grateful for her time at the club.
“It’s been a privilege to work at the Sydney Swans for the past five years and I am incredibly proud to have played a role in building the club’s AFLW program from the ground up,” Mahony said.
“Leaving was a hard decision to make, given my passion for the club, the team, and my role. The unexpected opportunity to take on a new challenge with Chelsea FC was one I felt I couldn’t pass up.
“I’d especially like to thank the players and staff for their trust and unwavering commitment to building a program centred around care and high performance."
