Craig Starcevich has been appointed the Western Bulldogs Womens Team Coach for season 2015.

The former Brisbane Bears and Collingwood player will lead the team in its exhibition games against the Melbourne Football Club.

Currently engaged as AFL Queensland’s Female High Performance Manager, Starcevich enjoyed a 144 game playing career with Brisbane  Brisbane and Collingwood between 1987- 1995, and held an off-field as strength and conditioning coach at the Brisbane Lions from 1997-2005 in which they achieved their premiership three peat.

Starcevich also held a similar strength and conditioning role at St Kilda in 2007.

Following the success of the first two AFL Womens Exhibition matches in 2013 and 2014, Starcevich looks forward to leading the Bulldogs’ side in pursuit of their first victory in the annual fixture.

"I'm very grateful for the opportunity to lead the Western Bulldogs women's coaching team. The calendar of events for elite women's AFL football is growing by the year in what is a very exciting phase,” Starcevich said.

“I'm looking forward to the challenges ahead."

Four assistant coaches will join Starcevich on his coaching panel - Nikki Harwood (East Fremantle), Nicole Graves (Swan Districts), Jane Lange (Darebin Falcons) and Krissie Steen (Balmain).

The 2015 AFL Womens Draft will be held on 20 April 2015, with the first of two matches against Melbourne next season scheduled for Sunday 24 May at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.