Daniel Jackson arrives at West Lakes with gun CV and key tasks to repair Adelaide’s leadership and culture
Daniel Jackson is an impressive choice to fix Adelaide’s leadership and culture vacuum alongside new coach Matthew Nicks, writes Richard Earle.
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A changed job title and time lag appointing Adelaide’s leadership manager Daniel Jackson understates senior coach Matthew Nick’s stature at West Lakes.
Jackson, 33, will report in March for duty as Crows leadership development manager. The other half of Jackson’s expected role – culture – was erased when announced on Thursday.
However, Jackson will be judged quickly on two areas of concern raised in Jason Dunstall’s 50-page external review. Jackson, Richmond’s 2013 club champion, must equip Adelaide’s list to deal with ‘performance pressure’ and improve personal relationships’ between players and football department staff.
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“He is held in high regard by everyone we have spoken to within the AFL industry, as well as his corporate clients, for his ability to coach individuals on their leadership capability and traits,” said Adelaide head of football Adam Kelly.
“He will be a valuable resource and support for all of our leaders in the football department and broader club.”
Jackson will lob at Adelaide six months after the key action of Dunstall’s football department review was appointing a head of leadership and culture.
Dual Crows premiership coach Malcolm Blight this month told The Advertiser recruiting a head of leadership and culture wasn’t necessary as Nicks is ‘stamping’ the club landscape since replacing Don Pyke. The delay in recruiting 156-game Tiger Jackson has afforded Nicks the pre-season space to mould Adelaide’s player group.
If a head of leadership and culture had sat in senior management then Nicks’ authority would have been undermined as wise Blight inferred.
Kelly has proven nimble, recruiting an expert with experience at English football outfit Crystal Palace and the US College system.
Jackson - with a masters in performance psychology from the University of Edinburgh - is fundamental in an era where Richmond has proven those in a premium mental space prevail in contrast to Adelaide’s torturous route since its 2017 grand final loss.
Jackson is a self starter who built his own company and worked with major brands including Sanitarium.
The inaugural Jim Stynes Community Leadership Award winner for commitment to the mental health and well-being of young people, Jackson remains young enough to connect with current players.
Working across child protection and youth resilience fields - including the Alannah and Madeline Foundation - underpins an impressive CV.
Jackson’s European situ and six years since retiring provides a crucial separation from the AFL bubble. West Lakes is a good fit for Jackson whose partner studies medicine in Adelaide.
Working in middle management, Jackson can handle the nuts and bolts behind leadership. Nicks will rightly be seen as the frontman reshaping the culture at West Lakes which is a serious task.
Tackling a culture of player self survival and failed leadership was the pressing concern when a panel comprising Dunstall, Matthew Pavlich, high performance experts Jonah Oliver and Dr Tim Gabbett dissected Adelaide’s football program last September.
Pyke, former head of football Brett Burton and assistant Scott Camporeale were the scapegoats for a self preservation scourge among players which Josh Jenkins lamented last August before joining Geelong.
Damien Hardwick revamped his approach at Punt Road in late 2016 with dual premiership effect having attended a life-changing leadership course in Boston.
Hardwick was captivated by American football mentor Mike Smith’s book ‘You Win in the Locker Room First’.
It is Jackson’s job to support Nicks in repairing Adelaide’s lost soul.