THE AFL'S next wave of senior coaches have received formal recognition, with a graduation ceremony held for the inaugural group of Level Four coaches on Wednesday evening.
The seven-man group, which included Melbourne coach Simon Goodwin, were recognised with the highest accreditation for potential AFL coaches after an extensive two-year course.
The other graduates were John Barker (Carlton), Stuart Dew (Sydney), Robert Harvey (Collingwood), Adam Kingsley (St Kilda), Simon Lloyd (Geelong) and Matthew Nicks (Port Adelaide).
AFL football operations manager Simon Lethlean said the program had focused on a one-on-one mentoring program with the aim to develop personal and coaching skills.
Mentors included former Melbourne coach Neale Daniher and international coaches John Buchanan (cricket), Lisa Alexander (netball) and Ric Charlesworth (hockey).
"The seven coaches who took part in the Senior Coach Level Four Program were pleased with the high quality of leaders that we were able to provide them as mentors," Lethlean said.
"Not only did the coaches who took part in the program become better quality leaders, they also learnt what makes them tick in high-pressure situations both inside and outside the coaches box."
The first Level Four group was selected in March 2015 after a lengthy interview process that included input from club CEOs and presidents, former AFL coaches and international coaches.
There have since been two further intakes, in 2016 and earlier this year, with a total of 10 coaches remaining active in the course.
Last year's intake included Justin Longmuir (West Coast) and Jade Rawlings (Melbourne), as well as Peter Sumich and Brett Montgomery, who have since left the AFL system but are completing the course.
The 2017 group is made up of Scott Burns (Collingwood), Brett Kirk (Sydney), Brendon Lade (Port Adelaide), Leigh Tudor (North Melbourne), Dean Solomon (Gold Coast) and Steven King (Western Bulldogs).
The group represents an industry consensus on the next wave of senior coaches, with the expectation the course will eventually become mandatory for all senior coaching candidates when it has a proven track record of success.
Carlton assistant Barker, who was runner-up to Chris Fagan for the Brisbane Lions coaching job, told AFL.com.au last year the course reflected the challenges senior coaches face.
"I got the opportunity … when I sat in the chair (as Mick Malthouse's replacement) and all these scenarios start appearing and you have to deal with them," Barker said.
"I'd done a lot of the thinking about those scenarios already, and it showed me that the Level Four is going to prepare coaches who are looking to take senior roles."
The two-year curriculum is based on a model from the International Council for Coach Education and is tailored to each coach's experience level.
The course's development has been led by the AFL's Michael Poulton, with input from former senior coaches Brendan McCartney and Daniher as well as Essendon coach John Worsfold during its infancy.
