Essendon Royals announce Jaiden van der Heijden as inaugural JGNPL Technical Director

Essendon Royals are proud to announce Jaiden van der Heijden as the club’s inaugural Technical Director of their JGNPL program.

Van der Heijden takes on the role after previously serving as Senior Women’s Assistant Coach under Vince Battiato and has made a huge impact at the club for helping form the pipeline for younger players coming into the senior setup.

Van der Heijden will also serve as the club’s Community Girls Technical Director.

“I’m excited to continue the development or implement what I was doing with the first team, now with the junior space. So it’s an exciting time for young players coming through Royals,” van der Heijden said.

“It’s huge; getting that NPL license… First of all, we’ve got to take care of our current Royals players and make sure that we’re developing players who are current Royals players.

“We’re bringing them through the system and through the grades to eventually become first team players, and then beyond that as well.

“So we’re looking at the bigger picture, trying to move players into the first team and then beyond into national teams and representative teams and things like that.

“It’s a really, really exciting time for those players. Obviously, we’re going to attract a lot of players from other clubs as well, who will be looking to join us. But first, we’ve got to take care of our current players.”

The New Zealander previously worked at Eastern Suburbs as a junior and youth football coach, while also serving as first team assistant of their senior women’s side.

Van der Heijden will lead the club’s junior girls coaches as they embark on its first ever JGNPL campaign next year, along with those in the community sector as well.

His role will also encompass identifying talent that the club can fastrack into their 20s and seniors program.

The club will make more announcements in the coming weeks.