Commander-in-chiefthe modern coach is

ot for the first club,” said North staff, the media and, through implementation of different the performance of all our One minute it is about a intoned with sharp directness if The demands of modern time, the concept coach Brad Scott, who has the media, supporters to impress systems or structures to make staff,” Scott said. player’s living arrangements, anyone stepped over the mark. coaching are becoming of the coach been in the job two years, after along the way. sure things are geared around “To be able to do that, the next training loads are being What such a system allowed more complex than ever. in the modern an apprenticeship as Mick No wonder effective senior working towards that vision.” I need to have relevant discussed. Then the president was for people to flourish As the face and leader game needs Malthouse’s development and coaches are now up there with The coach is pivotal in setting qualifications and at least a base is on the phone, then there is within their area of expertise— of the club, the role is explaining. assistant coach at Collingwood. the best and the brightest in that direction, but he does not level of understanding in all the team meeting detailing whether as an assistant coach, As the role has become What clubs need now more the community. work in isolation. The club’s those areas.” systems for the a physiotherapist, sports all-encompassing. N scientist, doctor or information more complicated, the gap than ever is a coach-manager, “The tactical side of things system must work to support It is hard game ahead, PETER RYAN between what the talkback set someone with a skill set akin to and actual football planning is the football department’s vision to imagine and then the technology manager—without imagines clubs require and what that of any modern executive potentially the easiest thing,” so the club CEO, the board Jock McHale list manager over-reaching it. they actually need has never (with quite a bit more scrutiny Scott said. and, importantly, the football espousing such I don’t think is there to There was only one person been wider. thrown in for good measure): West Coast coach John manager, must operate with the a philosophy, consider next expected to direct in all areas, Successful Italian soccer coach the coach is now a marketer, Worsfold has seen the dramatic coach as a cohesive unit. although he you are just year’s list, and and that was the senior coach. Arrigo Sacchi once described his media performer, chief shift take place since he started “You have got to get the whole may well have a team coach, the one for the Malthouse’s approach was to role as “both a screenwriter and operating officer, teacher, playing in 1987, and then after club on the one page,” said former done the same year after. question and listen and direct director”, a succinct definition in human resources manager and he became senior coach in 2002. Bulldogs and Swans coach things, in the I think you are The system when required. He gave those keeping with a coach’s penchant numbers man, as well as the When he defines the role, it is last week on Triple amateur era he coaches create under him more and more for plain language. great leader and footy strategist, apparent the qualities required M when asked to describe how he coached in. a club coach to process all autonomy as they proved capable The modern senior AFL coach visionary and entrepreneur. to succeed in the gig go well saw the role of the coach. “I don’t Scott has RODNEY EADE the information of working in a way that added has become, in effect, the CEO The average senior AFL coach beyond getting through to the think you are just a team coach, defined a and manage value to the organisation—it of football, setting direction has 70 people (including the players (even if it is still what I think you are a club coach.” managerial their time is was his idea to give his deputies and driving implementation. players) reporting to him on attracts most people to the job The coach is at the head of role, whatever way you cut therefore critical. control through the NAB Cup, MEN AT WORK: North Melbourne’s This is the clear view of those issues ranging from a player’s in the first place). the system, overseeing the it. The range of issues that fly At Collingwood, during a year including the Grand Final. Brad Scott gives Kieran Harper an in the role. hamstring injury to the latest in “The coach has a massive role different sub-groups within across the coach’s desk and the I spent as an in-house observer, Malthouse is encouraging pat, Eagle “When it is all boiled down, sports science research. in creating a vision for what the football department. types of conversations they the system was explained forever industrious, and Saint in reflective mood, and Collingwood’s and the senior coach is still the leader As well as leading this group, the group wants to achieve,” he “The role of the coach now engage in are never ending with one short phrase: ‘Know competitive, always discuss tactics. and the face of the football he has the board, sponsors, club said. “They then assist in the is really critically analysing in their scope. your role, play your role’, a line searching for ways to

64 AFL Record visit aflrecord.com.au AFL Record visit aflrecord.com.au 65 the changing face of coaching

make the team better, never shirking from the difficult ALL EARS: Geelong coach Chris Scott demands his responsibility of being the players’ attention. leader. He has authority but he is not an authoritarian. It may surprise those who only know him through the media, but he has a talent of knowing when the mood needs to be lightened. Scott said his first season was hugely demanding as he set the direction for the club, not only coaching the players but also the staff about what he expected. He now has total confidence to delegate responsibility to other staff because they understand what he wants. “That gives me more time with the players and developing that coach-player relationship, which I think is a vital component of the coach’s role,” he said. It is essential coaches can rely on their staff to deliver a consistent message because the coach depends on his players According to Geelong CEO others, but it’s not exciting,” Roos, Mark Thompson, Kevin being trained to make good Brian Cook, a modern coach Scott said. Sheedy, Mark Williams, Eade, decisions aligned to the way he has to have the ability to lead “People think it’s exciting, , , wants the club to operate. and manage people to collective and there are parts that are Worsfold and Ross Lyon to shine It is why the coaching team outcomes. If that seems like super-exciting, and they get over long periods. is increasingly important, the mumbo-jumbo, it isn’t. reported, but there’s another They are mature people assistant coaches’ roles crucial Cook said on-field 95 per cent that isn’t exciting managers, with their heads factors in team performance, performance remained the and doesn’t get reported.” above the parapet, generally their professionalism and smarts No. 1 performance measure. Worsfold admits the role is aware of the right call in any as essential as the senior coach. And that win-loss column, difficult to describe, such is the circumstances, and very capable The assistant coach works as Eade suggested last week on extent of its reach, but it is, he of driving their vision through long hours, assessing vision, his departure from the Dogs, agrees, comparable to the CEO all levels of the organisation. preparing training and is the main tool when used to of a company. A sense of humour and a sense meetings, being the first go-to assess whether someone can The balance between the of perspective are essential to person for players and providing coach or not. broader vision achieve this objective. one-on-one tuition—as well as No one and immediate Worsfold said getting a feel for promoting ideas through the complains needs to be what is affecting the players on senior coach, or exploring ideas about that found, and and off the field was where he from the senior man. reality, but is It is the boring the coach has devoted most of his energy. Their relationship with players it possible to to be able to “To do that, you need to be extends to phone calls at all really analyse routine that handle both big among the players as much as hours or invitations to dinner. It someone’s decisions and possible. It may not be a formal is pastoral as well as technical. performance separates deal quickly chat with them but an informal The criteria used to select as a journalist? champions with issues feel you get walking among Geelong coach Chris Scott last Brad Scott as they come them,” he said. October was the best public thinks it is from others to hand. Those informal moments are indication yet of how the senior possible but brad scott In the where real insight can be gained. coaching role has changed not necessarily textbooks, Any coach worth his salt has and expanded. palatable it is called his ears pricked at all times for The Cats’ wish list was because much of the reality is not situational leadership; in the knowledge, a voracious appetite sophisticated, with leadership that interesting to read about. land footy clubs inhabit, it is to get better or seek advice on and cultural development, And he understands that called the ability to win respect improving a characteristic personal qualities and interesting media coverage and command authority. that can then be passed on to management ability being is critical to him being able This is where the position their players. Such skills cannot weighted as 55 per cent of the to ply his trade. requires an X-factor, a mix of be measured. job, while technical ability, “The thing that most people wisdom and brilliance that goes Nor can the maturity to make coaching history, ability to don’t understand about beyond the process. the right call when the moment communicate and commercial professional sport is that it is It is what has made Malthouse demands a decision. appeal made up 45 per cent of the boring daily routine that such a strong modern coach and Worsfold said there was as the criteria. separates champions from allowed , Paul much art to coaching as science.

AFL Record visit aflrecord.com.au 67 the changing face of coaching

“As you get more experienced, their energies where they are you get the balance of making most needed, as well as keeping decisions based on hard facts personal relationships away and data and balancing that with from football alive. the decisions you make where It is a tough but satisfying role. something just feels right at the Worsfold said the satisfaction right time,” he said. comes when he sees the rewards To cope with the inevitable from constant hard work. Those scrutiny those decisions attract, rewards include the factor a coach must have an overriding that gives Scott (who started philosophy that keeps them as a development coach with steady even when the boat Collingwood in 2007) the most begins to rock. satisfaction: watching people Scott understands it is under his coaching succeed in the profile and scrutiny footy and life. that allows him to work in This same mantra has been professional sport, so he has part of the Malthouse package, no complaints when criticism and was mentioned many times comes his way, but he is not by those coached and directed immune to the pressure. by last month when “I’ve always believed that, LISTEN HEre: Richmond the great coach passed on. coach in times of severe pressure, spells out his tactics. Once you look beyond the you fall back on your preparation myth of the super coach or the and on your knowledge base messiah and start to see the and the comfort that (if you surrounds the team. Both held enough confidence and you’ve coach as a young professional, are) thoroughly prepared their nerve. got enough belief in what a brand that represents their and really diligent in what you “I always ask myself where my you’re doing, it actually club to the outside world, do, then when the pressure focus is,” Worsfold said. “I’ve got encourages criticism because your capacity to analyse their period inevitably comes, you some tools that I use to say, ‘Am it provokes thought.” performance changes. are better able to deal with that,” I still vision-focused and not too That does not make coaches Coaches are driven individuals he said. focused on the current reality?’ bulletproof. The demands of in an increasingly complex And don’t worry; every That does affect the way you the job are huge. environment, all motivated to coach has their moments. think. It affects the decisions Roos and Thompson chase success by the thrill of Scott’s team was on the end of you make if you can focus on voluntarily stepped away from the chase itself, a point stressed a 104-point thumping at the the big picture.” the spotlight that comes with by Worsfold. “If you win lotto, hands of St Kilda in just his It is why trusted sounding being a senior coach, their life it doesn’t necessarily bring the second game as coach, an event boards are essential for coaches. beyond football receiving more same sort of reward as working that tested his mettle. Worsfold Any coach who thinks he has attention than it possibly had your butt off to make a million coached the Eagles as they all the answers is on a quick in previous years. dollars,” he said. finished last in 2010. path to oblivion. Those who are in the position Scott is happy to hear and need to build a wall around Peter Ryan is the author of Side By Side, a It is the AFL coach’s lot to go year inside Collingwood, the story of the through a period when doubt assess criticism: “If you’ve got them to ensure they can direct 2009 season.

The coaches’ Fiji, Bali or Hong Kong, Guy McKenna said he could The coaches favourite non-sporting cities including Miami “drop a packet of Mint Slices” in as you may not book authors include and London, “anywhere one sitting; Hawthorn’s Alastair Malcolm Gladwell, with water and sun”, and Clarkson said he was an know them Tim Winton, Bryce getaways such as Cape “adept” yabby poacher; »»An AFL Record survey of the Courtenay, John Grisham, Alan Schanck, Whistler, Hamilton North Melbourne’s Brad League’s senior coaches found Furst, James Surowiecki, Robert Island, Palm Cove and Broome. Scott and Port ’s the vast majority draw their Ludlum and Patricia Cornwell. Most like to show their fancy strategic inspiration from the Musically, they favour skills in the kitchen, with their themselves in the garden; so-called “invasion sports” such anything from “The Potbelleez signature dishes including Carlton’s as soccer, basketball, rugby, ice to Kenny Rogers”, Powderfinger, seafood risotto, osso bucco, can bowl a cricket ball hockey and gridiron. U2, Crowded House, Charlie cheesecake, rib eye steak, left- and right-handed; They listed managing Pride, John Denver, Bruce scrambled eggs, roast lamb West Coast’s John Worsfold individuals to work as a team, Springsteen, Radiohead, Guns and chocolate pudding. plays the piano; Fremantle’s staying at the “cutting edge” of N’ Roses, Paul Kelly, Black Some coaches revealed they plays darts and tactics and sports science, time Eyed Peas, Led Zeppelin and had a “skill” or habit that would Adelaide’s is an management, delisting players Fleetwood Mac. surprise people. Brisbane “excellent” Scrabble player. and finding time for family When they get time for a Lions coach can THE AFL RECORD WOULD LIKE TO among the most challenging break, they prefer to visit complete the Rubik’s Cube ACKNOWLEDGE THE CONTRIBUTION of THE aspects of coaching. countries including puzzle; Gold Coast’s AFL COACHES’ ASSOCIATION. FOR MORE INFORMATION GO TO AFLCA.com.au

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