New term for GIANTS boss

This article first appeared on afl.com.au

Matthews, 42, became Giants boss last November on a 12-month contract after the abrupt departure of inaugural CEO Dale Holmes.

At the time Matthews was the AFL’s general manger of national and international development, based in Sydney.

“This is the biggest and most exciting challenge in Australian sport,” GWS chairman Tony Shepherd said.

“Since he joined the Giants, David has led the club with distinction through its first 12 months in the AFL competition and shown why he is a highly respected figure in the game.

“In that time membership has exceeded 10,000, we have attracted significant corporate support, opened the world class Skoda Stadium and announced the establishment of a new, state of the art training facility at Sydney Olympic Park.

“We have also won our first matches in Sydney and Canberra, extended contracts of the majority of our exciting young players and appointed Leon Cameron as senior assistant coach and successor to Kevin Sheedy in 2014.

“These achievements are in no small part due to David’s leadership and he has helped lay the foundations for what is a very exciting future.”

Matthews said he relished the opportunity take the club forward over the next three years.

“The AFL is a fantastic place to learn and work and I have felt very privileged for the opportunities I have had to develop the game.  Leading the Giants is another great opportunity to create something unique and important for the AFL and, in particular, the people of Western Sydney and Canberra.”

Matthews, 42, joined the AFL in 1998 after working with the Geelong Football League and the Victorian Country Football League. He was NAB AFL Auskick participation manager for five years before being appointed to the AFL Executive as general manager of game development in 2004.

In 2008, Matthews was appointed as general manager national and international development and transferred in that role to be based in Sydney in 2010.