This post reveals what AFL clubs actually look for when hiring performance staff. I break down the skills and traits that quietly separate the hired from the overlooked.
There is also a scorecard built from real AFL high performance manager feedback that shows exactly where you sit.
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AFL Performance Staff Essentials
Start with honest self-review
Breaking into elite sport can feel frustrating. You might reach the interview stage and still lose out to someone with more experience. However, that does not mean you are stuck. It starts with knowing where you currently stand and what needs attention. Clear goals, honest feedback, and a simple self-audit can show you what to improve over the next 6 to 12 months. As a result, your development becomes more focused.
Build strong coaching presence
Coaching presence is one of the biggest things clubs’ notices. It is not about being loud. Instead, it is about walking into a session with calm confidence, setting a clear intention, and helping athletes understand how they win the day. Likewise, your message needs to be short, clear, and useful. Athletes get overloaded with information, so the best coaches respect their attention and make every word count.
Communicate early and decide clearly
Good communication in high performance sport is proactive. If an athlete looks tight, flat, or off rhythm, strong staff speak up early rather than waiting for a meeting later. Therefore, better decisions can be made in the moment. Just as important, decision making should follow a clear process. You need to know when to push, when to support, and when to pull back. Over time, this helps athletes build resilience while reducing avoidable risk.
Use data with purpose
Data literacy is now a non-negotiable skill. Reading a graph is one thing but understanding what it actually means is what separates good staff from great ones. For example, a jump test may look better on the surface, but the deeper details might tell a different story. AFL Performance Staff Essentials also include using data to guide programming, ask sharper questions, and make smarter calls that support performance.
Highlights of the episode:
– The scorecard that reveals exactly where you stand against the competition
– The one coaching trait clubs are quietly judging you on before you even know it
– Why most people think they communicate well and why they’re wrong
– The decision-making secret that separates good staff from great ones
– Why waiting for problems to hit is already costing you
– The skill that’s quietly becoming the biggest differentiator in high performance
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