Podcast: A Conversation with an AFL Coach

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.

Episode 5: Denis Pagan

Sep 27, 2018

In Episode five, AFL Coaches CEO Mark Brayshaw chats Denis Pagan who was inducted as the 2018 PwC Coaching Legend at the Shadforth Financial Group AFL Coaches Awards on Tuesday 25th September. Pagan's career includes playing stints with North Melbourne and South Melbourne in the VFL, as well as coaching appointments with the North Melbourne Under-19s, Essendon reserves, and head coaching jobs with the North Melbourne and Carlton football clubs.  In the podcast,Pagan discusses everything from the honour of being named as a Coaching Legend, the infamous 'Marshmallow Game' against Essendon (48:25), to some pearls of wisdom from the late Ron Casey before the 1996 finals series (49:35), a 'sliding doors' moment in his career (7:10), his coaching style, and much more.

Episode 4: Chris Fagan

Sep 13, 2018

In Episode four, AFL Coaches CEO Mark Brayshaw — and AFL Coaches Member Services Officer, Greg Hutchison — chat with Brisbane Lions Head Coach Chris Fagan. Fagan's career includes playing and coaching stints in his native Tasmania — he was inducted into the Tasmanian Football Hall of Fame in 2007 — as well as AFL coaching appointments at Melbourne, Hawthorn, and Brisbane.In the podcast, Fagan discusses everything from coaching alongside Neale Daniher at the Demons in the 2000 Grand Final, their first since 1988 (19:45), and winning four premierships with great mate Alastair Clarkson at the Hawks (32:15), to battling the 'go home factor' as the Lions' Head Coach (53:00), his coaching ethos, funniest moments in the coaches box and more.

Episode 3: Danny Daly

Aug 14, 2018

In Episode three, AFL Coaches Association CEO Mark Brayshaw sits down with Brisbane Lions assistant coach Danny Daly. Danny is one of a quarter of the AFL Coaches membership who didn't play AFL but is coaching at the highest level. His lengthy AFL coaching career includes appointments at Collingwood, North Melbourne, Richmond and Brisbane. In the podcast Daly discusses everything from his recent battle with prostate cancer (1:05:20), and the Shinboner Spirit at North Melbourne (35:00), to the highs, lows and rebuild of the Brisbane Lions (55:35), his admiration for Damien Hardwick, and much more. 

Episode 2: Mark Neeld

Jul 27, 2018

In Episode two, AFL Coaches CEO Mark Brayshaw — and AFL Coaches Member Services Officer, Ron Watt — sit down with Mark Neeld, a man whose AFL career includes playing stints at Geelong and Richmond, as well as coaching appointments at Collingwood, Melbourne, and Essendon. In the podcast Neeld discusses everything from playing alongside Gary Ablett Snr (5:15), and his involvement in the drawn Grand Final in 2010 (18:20), to his turbulent tenure as Melbourne head coach (29:22), being an assistant under two premiership coaches in Mick Malthouse and John Worsfold, his departure from Essendon and more.

Episode 1: John Worsfold

Jun 21, 2018

In Episode one, AFL Coaches CEO Mark Brayshaw sits down with Essendon coach and West Coast legend John Worsfold to discuss everything from playing under Mick Malthouse (13:57), and the controversy surrounding his last AFL game (25:05), to catching up with his premiership charges (45:49), leading the Essendon Football Club through a crisis (1:03:55) and much, much more.