THE MELBOURNE Football Club Coach Mentoring Program for 2013 was launched on 9 March 2013 at the  Melbourne vs. St Kilda NAB Cup Match at Casey Fields.

Consisting of aspiring local coaches from partnering leagues including the SEJ, MPNFL, SMJFL and VWFL, the Coach Mentoring Program aims to enlighten and better equip local coaches by providing behind the scenes access to an elite coaching environment.

Eighteen local coaches participated in the day and were given exclusive access to watch the players' warm-up in the change rooms before listening to assistant coach Brian Royal address the players pre-game. Ruckman Jake Spencer also spoke to the group about the team’s main focuses from their pre-season training, and his individual targets for the game.

Watching from a seated enclosure, the coaches were set tasks to complete throughout the game, and were able to observe Royal’s pre-game points in action.  At the half time interval, football manager and former assistant coach, Josh Mahoney, provided feedback on the observations from the coaches, as well as giving his own overview of first half proceedings.

The Coach Mentoring Program will total three sessions in 2013, with the second being held in April at AAMI Park, where participants will visit the Club's first class training facilities and spend further time with Melbourne Football Club coaches and players.