Having started out as a junior player with Bayswater in the Eastern FNL in Melbourne, Greenshields' footy odyssey took in a number of stops in country Victoria before he landed in Coffs Harbour in the late 1990s.

There, he linked with the North Coffs Kangaroos, where he was a multiple premiership-winning player - one of those as captain-coach.

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He was named in the AFL North Coast team of the decade for 2000 to 2009.

Greenshields spent 13 years with the Coffs Coast Advocate in numerous editorial roles, and has spent the last three years running his own business - which included writing for and managing the AFL North Coast socials.

In a statement, AFL NSW/ACT said Greenshields "brings to the role of competition co-ordinator a great skill set that will be utilised across tasks".

Those tasks, it said, included fixturing, competition management within the PlayHQ system, rule development and interpretation, as well as club consultation and management.

Greenshields said: "I'm thrilled to be given the opportunity to work for AFL NSW/ACT, and I'm really looking forward to getting involved with the passionate footy community we're so lucky to have across Northern NSW.

"The game has enjoyed healthy participation numbers in our region over recent years, and one of my goals is to help grow those numbers.

"While I've already enjoyed a long involvement in the AFL North Coast community, I'm really looking forward to get to know the North West just as well."

Paul Taylor, AFL NSW/ACT's community football manager for northern NSW, said that Greenshields' appointment was another exciting development in the ongoing growth of AFL across northern NSW.

"The competitions on both the North Coast and in the North West have had excellent annual growth for the past six years, which will continue into 2022 with both leagues adding new youth girls competitions," Taylor said.

"With the North West clubs electing to have their league managed by AFL NSW/ACT, we needed an extra staff member to share the load."

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