A Conversation with an AFL Coach is the brand new podcast series brought to you by the AFL Coaches Association, where we’ll pick some of the leading footy brains in the land in a no holds barred chat covering their lives in, and out, of Aussie Rules football.
In episode 10, AFLCA Member Services Manager Greg Hutchison chats with Gold Coast SUNS Coach Stuart Dew.
Stuey's playing career includes two Premierships, one at Port Adelaide in 2004 and the other at Hawthorn in 2008... a Grand Final win which he will be remembered for his three minute burst in the 3rd quarter, kicking 2 goals and setting up another 2 to swing the game. After retiring in 2009, he joined Sydney as an assistant coach and was part of the Swans 2012 premiership . At the end of 2017, he got the top job at the SUNS.
In the podcast, Stuey chats about everything from his early playing days in SA at Central District (1:27), his career at Port Adelaide, being coached by Jack Cahill & Mark ‘Choco’ Williams and the influences on his career (7:40), to how he came to be at the Hawks and the 2008 Grand Final (28:49). He also takes us through his coaching journey from being under Roos & Longmire at Sydney (39:32) and now to coaching the Suns (51:40) & how Chris Fagan’s philosophy from his early days at Brisbane has helped him so far (1:02:16), plus much more.
In Episode nine, we’ve given the AFL Coaches CEO Mark Brayshaw another break from the hosting gig and we have Alicia Eva, GIANTS AFLW vice captain, NEAFL development coach (backline) and the recipient of the 2019 AFL Coaches & Lucky Chicken Eggs AFLW Coaching Pathway Scholarship, in conversation with GIANTS Director of Coaching & AFLW Senior Coach Alan McConnell (‘grandfather’ as Alicia says he is referred to at the GIANTS).
In the podcast, Alicia, who is beginning to make an indelible mark on the game through coaching, shares everything from her coaching journey to date, to her development and future aspirations, as well as the reason behind her move to play AFLW at GIANTS.
You'll hear from Alan on his 30+ year career discussing everything from being sacked after making a grand final, his time at Geelong, to being the last Senior Coach of Fitzroy, the first employee of the GIANTS, Director of Coaching and now also GIANTS AFLW Senior Coach.
In Episode eight, AFL Coaches CEO Mark Brayshaw hands over the podcasting reins to two Bulldogs: club legend—and current assistant coach—Daniel Giansiracusa, and Western Bulldogs 2018 AFLW Premiership coach and current AFLW senior coach Paul Groves. In the podcast, Gia and Grovesy discuss everything from the 2018 AFLW Premiership win, and trying to go back-to-back (25:50), to balancing coaching, playing, and family life, his hectic AFLW Grand Final week (31:49), the AFL Coaches & Lucky Chicken Eggs Women's Coaching Crusade (50:55), and much more.
In Episode seven, AFL Coaches CEO Mark Brayshaw chats with the 2018 premiership winning coach, Adam Simpson.
Simpson's stellar playing career includes 306 games and two premierships for North Melbourne during their indomitable run in the 1990’s. He can now add to that two coaching appointments—with Hawthorn as an assistant, and West Coast as senior coach—and two more premierships. In the podcast, Simpson discusses everything from the "LeBron James-like” aura of Wayne Carey (4:55), and his role during the ‘Keep North South’ movement (19:35), to swapping notes with Justin Langer (34:00) and reflecting on his 2018 Grand Final memories (34:45), plus much more.
In Episode six, AFL Coaches Member Services Officer, Greg Hutchison chats with North Melbourne Director of Coaching, Darren Crocker. Crocker's footballing history includes an injury interrupted but ultimately fruitful playing career with North Melbourne, highlighted by the 1996 Premiership. Following retirement, Crocker held coaching appointments with Port Melbourne and the Richmond reserves in the VFL, before taking up assistant coaching positions with Richmond and North Melbourne in the AFL. In the podcast, Crocker discusses everything from the rush of running out onto the MCG before North's 1996 Grand Final victory (14:15), and playing under coaching legend Denis Pagan (18:15), to a memorable preliminary final during Crocker and Hutchison's time at Richmond (31:25), his joy at being able to fill in as senior coach of the North Melbourne Football Club (43:20), and much more.
