THIS week saw the launch of the inaugural Calder Coaching Academy at Highgate Reserve.
Thirty enthusiastic coaches from the local region were in attendance as they completed the first of seven sessions.
They will have access to across the course of the season.
Ross Smith (Regional Coaching Director) is heading up the Academy and was impressed with the level of talent in the room and their desire to improve.
“I’m really excited to be working with this group of coaches and seeing what level of coaching they can all reach on an individual basis,” Smith said.
“Whilst we will explore many different facets of coaching, we will always revert back to the fundamentals which are so crucial to success.
“They are all incredibly enthusiastic and eager to learn, and I have no doubt that I will learn plenty off them, too.”
The Academy is designed to provide an accelerated learning environment for coaches within the Calder region who have an aspiration to take their coaching to the next level.
Applications were open to coaches from all levels and this is reflected in the final intake which includes U11 Coaches right up to VFL assistants.
The Academy will provide a great learning foundation for coaches who are continually striving to improve their craft and progress to the next level, whether that be in community football or the talented player pathway.
Coaches will be exposed to numerous different elite environments as part of the Academy including the Calder Cannons, Essendon AFL/VFL and Coburg FC.
The steering committee consisting of AFL Victoria, Calder Cannons, EDFL and Essendon FC staff, had a tough job picking the final 30 participants from a healthy field of applications – please see below for list of inaugural inductees:
Khalid Abou-Eid (North Brunswick JFC)
Leigh Coles (Keilor FC)
David Connell (Tullamarine FC)
Charles Cuzzupi (Calder Cannons FC)
David Fazakerley (Oak Park FC)
Roy Fishenden (Avondale Heights FC)
Jim Gioffre (Craigieburn FC)
Brett Gourley (Calder Cannons FC)
Andrew Hall (Sunbury Lions FC)
Cole Harvey (Calder FC/Hillside FC)
Glen Hatton (Westmeadows FC)
Russell Humphrey (Calder Cannons FC)
Luke Mahoney (Moonee Valley FC/Fitzroy FC)
Justin Mall (Calder Cannons FC)
Craig Mather (Avondale Heights FC)
Brad Murphy (Calder Cannons FC)
Christopher Nemeth (Rupertswood FC)
Chris Nolan (Calder Cannons FC)
Damian O'Connor (Sunbury Kangaroos FC)
Austin O'Connor-Stubbs (Maribyrnong Park FC)
Matt Ogilvie (Melbourne University WFC)
Chad Owens (Coburg FC)
Paul Perillo (Keilor FC)
Christina Polatajko (Newbury PS/VU Spurs FC)
Wassim Rafihi (Melbourne University WFC/NGA)
Luke Russell (Calder Cannons FC)
John Singarella (Hillside FC)
Joey Sudano (Calder Cannons FC)
Bert Werden (Strathmore FC)
Luke Williams (Calder Cannons FC)
We look forward to these coaches contributing to driving high coaching standards in the region in Season 2019 and beyond.
