Richmond Appoints Beth McLaughlin as AFLW Strength & Conditioning and Return to Play Coach

Richmond Football Club has officially announced the appointment of Beth McLaughlin as the new AFLW Strength and Conditioning and Return to Play Coach.

McLaughlin transitions to the Tigers from the Gold Coast Suns, bringing a highly specialised background in high-performance conditioning, speed development, and injury rehabilitation to the club’s women’s football program.

AFLW physical performance manager, Hunter Rubino, is looking forward to how McLaughlin can help the program.

“Really excited to welcome Beth McLaughlin on board, who has come down from Gold Coast.” 

“Alongside Beth’s time at the Gold Coast Suns, she also spent time most recently with Gold Coast United Football Club Women’s Program, as their Head of High Performance.

“She ran the Women’s National Premier League Program, as well as running their Under 21’s Program.

During her time at the Suns, she developed a Women’s Speed Program. It aligns with our philosophy of lots of football, joining with high-speed running and sprint,” Rubino said.

Professional Profile and Technical Milestones

McLaughlin’s career trajectory includes foundational milestones within elite national pathways and premier state league competitions, establishing her as a leading specialist in women’s athletic preparation.

In addition to her notable tenure with the Suns, McLaughlin recently served as the Head of High Performance for the Gold Coast United Football Club Women’s Program. In this high-performance capacity, she successfully directed the operations for the senior Women’s National Premier League Program while simultaneously managing the physical preparation for the club’s Under 21 squad pathways.

During her time developing elite athletes with the Gold Coast Suns, McLaughlin designed a specialised Women’s Speed Program to maximise on-field acceleration.

The addition of McLaughlin to Richmond’s coaching ranks reinforces a distinct, unified approach to physical conditioning. Her expertise in acceleration and game-specific endurance directly meshes with the club’s on-field strategic goals.

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