Jaiden Van Der Heijden appointed Senior NPLW Coach

Essendon Royals are delighted to announce Jaiden van der Heijden as the club’s new Senior Women’s Head Coach.

After two seasons as Senior Women’s Assistant Coach, Jaiden already has a terrific rapport with our NPLW squad, and his elevation ensures a seamless transition in the dugout. 

Jaiden boasts a keen tactical eye and despite his age is already an accomplished coach.

Having been a big part of the success of our NPLW program since the club has been competing in the top division of women’s football in Victoria, Jaiden proved the best candidate to take on the role, following the departure of Vince Battiato.

Jaiden will look to continue to build from the foundations laid in the women’s and JGNPL program in recent seasons and arrives in the top job with a clear mandate to maintain a strong level of competition, whilst working to provide greater opportunities for the promising talent rising through the Royals JGNPL program.

Jaiden also served as our inaugural JGNPL Technical Director last season and has made a huge impact in helping establish a pathway for the next generation of Royals women to graduate into the senior side. 

Please join us in wishing Jaiden well for his first season at the helm, as preparations ramp up for our 2026 NPLW Victoria campaign. 

The Royals takes this opportunity to thank Jaiden’s predecessor, Vince, for the work he put into our Women’s program over the last four seasons, helping the club to rise from State League 1 to the NPLW, winning a Nike FC Community Cup, VPLW premiership and VPLW championship along the way, as well as guiding the Royals to consecutive finals berths in NPLW.

The Essendon Royals look forward to Jaiden building on a legacy that has awoken giant of women’s football, taking a base of historic female participation in the sport and helping to deliver it to a top-tier platform that the club will continue to use as a beacon for aspiring young footballers.