About the Carlton Football Club

The Carlton Football Club is one of Australia’s oldest and most prominent sport institutions. Founded in 1864, the Club headquarters and training facilities are located in Carlton at IKON Park, our traditional home ground.

Our IKON Park redevelopment is now complete, and we are proud of our state-of-the-art facilities that supports our high-performance environment. When the Club set about undertaking this historic work, it was based upon achieving facilities for women’s sport that would be the equal of their male counterparts. We are passionate about our contribution to the Community and foster an inclusive and welcoming culture where our values are at the core of who we are and what we do.

About the Role

This role will see you coaching across both the Carlton Academy and AFLW football Program at Carlton. Working on a three day a week basis, this opportunity provides a unique opportunity to have an impact when it comes to emerging talent at the Club as well as play a key role within the coaching group for the AFLW program.  

As Carlton Academy Coach, you will be responsible for leading and coaching a talented group of boys and girls that make up the Carlton Academy. This group includes father/son and father/daughter prospects, as well as highly talented athletes within the Club’s Next Generation Academy You will also work in conjunction with the Adam Saad Pathway Program to coach the Adam Saad pathway program in their Next Generation Academy games.

As AFLW Head of Development you will primarily develop, motivate, coach, and provide development expertise and support to the AFLW playing group.  Reporting to the AFLW Senior Coach, you will communicate closely and support the Senior Coach in motivating the playing group to perform to their highest level and execute all facets of the game at the highest level. This role has the responsibility for focusing on the skill development and execution of football craft across the playing group.

On offer is a fixed term contact until the end of the year, with plans to continue to expand in both these areas.

Key Responsibilities

Carlton Academy Coach

Assisting the deliverance of all aspects of the Carlton Academy Strategy and operational plan including:

• Develop a yearly coaching syllabus that provides all athletes within the Carlton Academy the maximum chance of reaching the highest level.
• Create and manage Individual Development Plan’s for all athletes in the Academy 16 years or over.
• Design, co-ordinate and deliver fortnightly in season training sessions for all Academy athletes that helps execute the successful delivery of the coach syllabus.
• Design, coordinate and deliver twice weekly off-season training sessions that helps prepare Academy athletes for the demands of AFL/AFLW football.
• Review game vision with athletes providing the highest level of game education to athletes.
• Attend relevant Representative, Club and School football games as directed by Academy Manager.
• Develop and manage strong relationships with High Performance Managers of relevant talent pathways programs (E.G Coates League Teams, State Programs, Schools) to ensure a consistent and aligned approach to the physical development of our athletes.
• Assist other Club Academy staff with talent identification.
• Act as Director of Coaching for the Adam Saad Pathway Program over a 6 week period (1 training per week & 1 representative carnival).

AFLW Head of Development

Provide coaching, teaching and skill developmental support to the AFLW playing group including:

• Plan and execute group craft and fundamental based training within the program that maximises fundamental skill development in all areas of football (kicking, marking, handball). Supporting other coaches to take craft groups in specific needs-based areas.
• Responsible for planning and supporting advanced skills session for specific needs of the AFLW playing group.
• Working with AFLW Coaching staff on specific needs of individual players to fast track football growth and skill development.
• Provide players support with individual development plans that will help drive improvement.
• Review and code training and playing vision to assist with individual player development focusing on craft and technique.
• Build strong relationships with 1-2 year players to help support all aspects of their development.

Experience, Skills and Attributes

• Minimum Level 2 AFL Coaching Qualification.
• Experience working with elite junior athletes both male and female.
• Experience Coaching in elite level sport.
• Demonstrated ability or experience in elite level coaching and involvement in sport.
• Ability to create a team environment that supports authenticity, relationships, trust and psychological safety.
• Strong relationships builder who treats others with respect and recognises the contribution of others.
• Naturally supportive and can contribute to a positive impact on Club culture.
• Demonstrates a growth mindset, supporting the team and coaching staff to reach and unleash their full potential.
• Committed to the continual development of self and others, and places priority on growth, learning and development in a sporting context.
• High levels of emotional intelligence, and self-awareness.
• Highly accountable, and readily accepts personal responsibility. Role models behaviours and holds others to account when expected standards are not being met.
• Presents and communicates with impact. Can adapt and meet needs of audience. Use of style, and language is inclusive and clear. 
• Ability to travel to deliver training sessions and watch games involving Carlton Academy athletes.
• Proven capabilities to define a program and manage it successfully to completion.

Benefits and Culture

Carlton’s values underpin how the Club operates, describing how our people work together, interact and behave. The Club is passionate about its culture, focused on cultivating a unique sense of belonging and connection. In addition, we offer our people learning and development opportunities, as well as employee benefits such as membership, café and retail discounts, alongside working in a world-class sporting amenity.

The Carlton Football Club is an equal opportunity employer and a place who welcomes all. We encourage people with diverse experiences and backgrounds to apply. This includes, but is not limited to, those from the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander, Culturally and Linguistically Diverse, and LGBTQIA+ communities. We are committed to fostering a workplace environment which is inclusive, safe, and flexible. All applicants will be considered based on the relevance of their abilities to the role and their alignment with our Club Values.

The Carlton Football Club is committed to providing a welcoming environment where the safety and wellbeing of all children and young people involved in our programs, services, activities, events, and the broader community, will always be our first priority. All staff must hold (or be willing to obtain) a current Victorian Working With Children Check as part of their employment with the Club.