Building the Culture that Defines Us: Harriet Cooper, Director of Coaching & Head Coach

At the Port Melbourne Chargers Women’s Football Club, our first season was about more than football — it was about building something that will last. A strength-based club culture built on integrity, belonging, respect and excellence. From the very beginning no one has embodied or driven that more than our Director of Coaching and Head Coach, Harriet (Haz) Cooper.

During our club Best & Fairest presentation, Harriet shared a heartfelt reflection on the

season — speaking with pride about the development of our players, the resilience shown through challenges, and how she was most proud of the strong culture that has already begun to define the Chargers.

That culture hasn’t and doesn’t happen by chance. It’s the result of authentic leadership — the kind that values people first and gives women the opportunity to be at the front of sport. This is just one of the many reasons that Haz loves to coach.

When talking to our players, one saying stood out that captured the sentiment of many “A good coach can change a game; a great coach can change a life.”

This applies wholeheartedly to Harriet. The team speaks to Haz creating an environment where people feel safe to grow. Haz builds confidence in players through care and leaves an imprint that stays with players long after the final siren.

Haz’s coaching and leadership is transformational - and it sits at the core of who she is.

It is hard to put into words how to sum up someone who can have such a profound impact on those around her. What is it that Haz brings that makes her truly special?

Empathy and Care

Before Harriet coaches a player, she sees the person.

Her empathy is the foundation of her influence — she prioritises wellbeing, happiness and the emotional safety of the group. Her kindness and emotional intelligence helped new and returning players feel welcome from the very beginning.

This care-first approach has been a defining feature of our inaugural year.

Belonging and Inclusion

Harriet builds belonging deliberately and consistently, creating an environment where everyone feels part of the Chargers family.

Players describe her as creating a welcoming and inclusive space where every individual feels valued and connected. This sense of belonging is some of the glue that held our first season together, from her leadership.

Culture and Values

Harriet’s influence shaped the tone, standards and values that now anchor our club:

• connection before competition

• care before ego

• respect in every direction

Her dedication and belief created the foundation our club now stands on — strong, united and player-centred.

Empowerment and Growth

Harriet’s impact extends beyond football skills.

She empowers players to become more confident, resilient and self-assured — as athletes and as people. She sees potential that many players don’t yet recognise in themselves, and she brings it out through encouragement, accountability and belief.

Players have reflected that Haz has helped them grow not just in sporting ability, but in character.

Reliability and Presence

A coach’s presence absolutely defines the team. Harriet’s consistency, reliability and steady support made her the backbone of the club. She always showed up — in every sense — giving the group stability, trust and direction throughout a year of firsts and challenges. When Haz is there, players feel ready, safe and supported.

Energy and Positivity

Haz’s uplifting and positive energy shaped the tone of training, game day and every

team interaction. Her positivity is contagious, her passion is energising, and her calm

presence helps the group stay grounded and focused. The driven, upbeat atmosphere she created wasn’t accidental — it was leadership in action.

Dedication and Work Ethic

Behind the scenes, Harriet’s work ethic has been remarkable. From the get go, she stepped into countless roles, filling gaps, supporting every corner of the program and gave her time and energy generously. Her contribution was pivotal to the success of our first season — and the players, community and committee felt it deeply.

Her leadership didn’t just help us get through year one. It helped us thrive.

Experience and Expertise

Harriet brings a rare mix of playing, academic, and professional experience to her coaching. A former St Kilda Sharks player with over a decade in women’s football, she understands the game from every angle — as a competitor, a mentor, and an educator.

She holds a Bachelor of Health and Physical Education (Deakin University, 2015–2019) and a Sports Therapy qualification from the Australian College of Sports Therapy (2011–2014) — grounding her coaching in science, wellbeing, and injury prevention.

Her background in sports therapy means she approaches football holistically — understanding performance, rehabilitation, and the human body’s limits and potential.

Leadership Grounded in Strengths

Through the Charging Forward Strengths Leadership Program, Harriet’s CliftonStrengths profile captured what we see every day: calm confidence, emotional intelligence, and purposeful leadership.

Her top strengths — Relator, Discipline, Includer, Harmony, Achiever, Arranger, Empathy, Consistency, Learner, and Positivity — reflect the perfect balance between structure and compassion. Haz’s strengths support her building relationships that matter, building standards that elevate everyone, and leading with empathy that unites.

When our players received their Chargers jumpers at the start of the season, Haz was rightly proud of what we were creating, it was a moment of belonging, pride and identity.

Well, Haz look what we’ve done now!

A Culture That Will Endure

We are only in our first year, but our cultural DNA is already strong. That is only the start of Harriet’s legacy at the Port Chargers and it will continue to shape who we become for many years to come.

Be part of something bigger. The Chargers are building a club where everyone belongs. Register your interest to play in 2026 →

Supported by Life You Choose and Salta

The Charging Forward Leadership Program, proudly supported by Life You Choose and Salta Properties. Together, we’re investing in the growth and development of our people — building leaders who bring purpose, connection, and strength both on and off the field.