MELBOURNE has started working and mentoring Indigenous coaches around Australia, bridging the gap from grassroots coaching to the elite level.

Assistant coach, strategy and education coordinator, Craig Jennings, Indigenous project officer Matthew Whelan and defender Neville Jetta are right behind the concept, with coach Simon Goodwin also a strong supporter.

Jennings recently attended a workshop in AFL Cairns, where former Melbourne star Aaron Davey is now football development manager.

Whelan said it was great opportunity to help build the talent pool for future Indigenous coaches to enter the AFL.  

“Unfortunately, there is a lack of Indigenous coaches in the AFL system, and we thought we could help implement a program that could help with the pathway from local coach to AFL coach,” he told melbournefc.com.au.

“Craig graciously volunteered his time to give back to aspiring local coaches in Cairns. We met with the AFL Coaches Association’s Ron Watt and Greg Hutchison, and Mathew Stokes from the AFL Indigenous programs, in regards to a program that would hopefully inspire Indigenous and non-Indigenous coaches to further their coaching aspirations.

“It was a chance for us, in the AFL system, to give back to grass roots football, where we all started.”

Whelan has no doubt programs such as these will make a difference to Indigenous coaches.

“It’s going to improve the quality of coaching at the grass roots level and improve the standard of the competition as a whole,” he said.

“Working with Craig Jennings has been a lot of fun, as he has a real passion for Indigenous culture and he really wants to give back to regions in Australia that don’t get access to high level coaching, as regularly as Victoria, South Australia and Western Australia.

“Craig has a great rapport with our Indigenous players, as he did at Essendon with their Indigenous players. He has a great understanding of some of the hurdles that our Indigenous boys have in making it to the AFL, and was a great fit to deliver this program to Cairns and its surrounding areas, which has a high number of Indigenous players and coaches in their league.”

Whelan has no doubt non-Indigenous coaches, such as Jennings will learn plenty from the program as well.

“It’s great for Craig to experience something different,” he said.

“He already has ideas that he can bring back to Melbourne and help with educating and coaching our players. He has taken in stories and learnings from the local people of Cairns, which I’m sure we will see shortly in our education sessions at Melbourne.”

But Whelan said the club's Next Generation Academy was also playing a critical role in assisting Indigenous and Multiculutral youngsters. 

“The NGA gives us an opportunity to expose Indigenous and Multicultural kids at a young age to what kind of professionalism is needed to succeed in the AFL. It gives us a chance to fast track their development and individually tailor a training program to suit the individual’s needs,” he said. 

“There are a lot of talented players in every region of Australia that don’t get the opportunity to further their football careers due to certain circumstances. Through the NGA - the Melbourne Academy - we can track the players over a number of years and hopefully build the professionalism of the players at a younger age and work through any obstacles they may encounter that stop them playing football. 

“As an extension of this program, we think it is important to develop local Indigenous and non-Indigenous coaches as well. That's where we are currently piloting the program, where Craig Jennings has volunteered his time to give coaching seminars to these coaches who are Indigenous or are coaching a lot of Indigenous kids. If we can upskill local coaches, it will help with the quality of the football competition, and in return provide better players to the AFL system.”

Jennings said he was “privileged” to work alongside the likes of Whelan, Jetta and Davey on such “new and innovative ways to support Indigenous coaches and players” projects.  

“I’m always actively pursuing non-traditional ways to gain unique coaching and leadership experiences, and working closely with Wheels and Nev has allowed me to develop amazing, mutually supportive relationships with Indigenous coaches and players across the country,” he said.

“Traveling to Cairns to meet a legend of our club, in Aaron Davey, and being able to share ideas about culture and learning environments was a phenomenal experience.” 

Jennings said the opportunity to gain “deep insights about Indigenous culture was incredibly valuable to me both personally and professionally”.  

“To be able to spend time with passionate and energetic people like Aaron Davey, and the absolutely brilliant football community in Cairns, and hear stories of Indigenous culture and storytelling, is one of the best experiences I’ve had in football,” he said.

“I saw firsthand a real entrepreneurial spirit and an eagerness to invest in their coaching and learning in AFL Cairns. They are an incredibly hospitable and generous football community.”

Jennings said learning from female Indigenous coaches was another critical part of the program.

“I was also really grateful that six local female coaches gave their time to be part of the night to share their football and cultural knowledge. The inner sanctum of football clubs are no longer male only environments and their contribution was valuable to me, especially considering the high esteem our Melbourne AFLW team is held and the influence players like Daisy Pearce and Mel Hickey have on our culture,” he said.

“As a coach, Goody has great awareness around social responsibility and a strong expectation that we as coaches develop our leadership skills through giving back to the community. He has been a great advocate and supporter of Wheels, Neville and my keenness to develop and help Indigenous coaches and players Australia wide.”