The Brisbane Lions are pleased to announce the appointment of Danielle Smith as the new General Manager of the Brisbane Lions AFLW program.

Smith takes over from Bree Brock, who recently resigned from the role, after a decade with the Lions.

Smith was the inaugural CEO of the Sunshine Coast Lightning Super Netball franchise, guiding the club to back-to-back premierships in its first two seasons. She has also held senior leadership roles with the Melbourne Storm, the Geelong Cats, the Melbourne 2006 Commonwealth Games and most recently as CEO of Exercise & Sports Science Australia.

Her career spans more than 25 years in leadership roles across the sporting industry in Victoria and Queensland, and she was awarded QSport’s Sport Administrator of the Year in 2021.

Brisbane Lions Chief Executive Officer, Sam Graham said Danielle would be a great addition to the Lions.

“I’m really looking forward to Danielle joining the club and working with Craig Starcevich and our talented staff and playing group to continue to build and evolve our AFLW program.

“Danielle has a deep passion for the code and importantly has significant experience in successful high performance environments.”

Smith said she was excited to join the Lions and lead one of the competition’s most successful AFLW programs.

“I’m incredibly honoured to join the Brisbane Lions to lead its AFLW program and build on the outstanding legacy of Bree Brock,” Smith said.

“The opportunity to work with Craig Starcevich, our talented playing group, high performance staff and the broader club is incredibly exciting.

“I’m passionate about continuing to grow and elevate elite women’s sport while supporting an environment where our athletes and staff can perform at their very best.”

“The Brisbane Lions have built a passionate AFLW supporter base and I’m looking forward to connecting with our fans and community as we continue to grow the program.”

Smith will commence in the role on 30 March 2026.