Private School Football: The AFL players and coaches working in the industry
Who are the current and former AFL players mentoring the stars of tomorrow? These are the big names in Victoria’s private school football scene.
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The private school football landscape has changed dramatically in the past decade, with prestigious schools searching for experienced coaches and mentors to assist their growing programs.
Who are the former and current AFL stars in the industry who are assisting the draft hopefuls of the future?
We take a closer look at the big names in Victoria’s private school football scene.
ASSOCIATED PUBLIC SCHOOLS (APS)
MATTHEW BUNTINE, Caulfield Grammar
Role: Assistant coach
The former No. 5 pick linked up with Caulfield Grammarians in the VAFA in 2022 after being delisted from the GWS Giants and has been an assistant to Anthony Phillips at Caulfield Grammar since.
BARRY ROWLINGS, Caulfield Grammar
An understated yet extremely decorated career as an AFL player, Rowlings is bringing his premiership and best and fairest winning experience to Caulfield Grammar. Works not only with Caulfield Grammar but with its VAFA affiliate as well.
MARCUS DRUM, Scotch College
Role: Head coach
Taken at pick 10 in the 2005 draft, Drum is now helping current draft hopefuls in his role as head coach of Scotch College. Drum played 22 games for Fremantle and then was traded to Geelong, where he didn’t play a game and was forced to retire early due to injury.
JOHN BARKER, Carey Grammar
Role: Head coach
Barker, who took over as Carlton caretaker coach after the sacking of Mick Malthouse in 2015, is the head coach of Carey Grammar. Barker began coaching after his 168-game playing career for Fitzroy, Brisbane and Hawthorn, spending 10 years at the Blues after stints at Hawthorn and St Kilda. He said earlier this year that he would never return to the AFL industry due to the increased demands placed on coaches.
TROY SELWOOD, Geelong Grammar
Role: Head of Football and Sports Performance Mentor
The 75 game Lion, who is the twin brother of Adam and older brother of Joel and Scott, is Geelong Grammar’s Head of Football and Sport Performance Mentor. Selwood runs the football program and provides high performance guidance to the elite sportsplayers at the school. He moved into the position in 2021 after a short stint with Collingwood’s recruiting team.
NATHAN BROWN, Geelong College
Role: Head of Football
Previously working in construction with a coaching background, Brown was appointed as Geelong College’s Head of Football at the end of last year and is thoroughly enjoying working with children of all ages in the role. The 2010 Collingwood premiership defender played 183 games for the Pies and Saints, retiring from the game in 2020.
RHYS STANLEY, Geelong College
The premiership ruckman passed on his wisdom to Geelong College footballers during the pre-season, with the school seeing a positive response from his guidance.
MATTHEW LLOYD, Haileybury
Role: Head coach
Lloyd has coached the Bloods for nearly a decade and in that time has collected a handful of APS titles. His most recent, just last week, may be his best yet, as Haileybury trailed by five goals late in the third term to storm home to victory in the last.
SCOTT PENDLEBURY, Haileybury
Role: Midfield coach
The AFL-champion is showing his post-footy potential as a coach, assisting Matthew Lloyd with the Bloods’ midfield. Haileybury’s comeback win over Caulfield Grammar certainly had shades of what Pendlebury’s Pies seem to do week-in-week-out.
NATHAN JONES, Haileybury
Role: Year 10 coach
Along with his media commitments for Channel 7, the former Melbourne captain coaches Haileybury’s Year 10 side, bringing 302 games of experience. The Demons great retired from the game at the end of 2021, where he was a grand final heartbreak story, making the call to return home to Victoria to be with his wife for the birth of their twins instead of attempting to make a shock return from injury.
BRAD GOTCH, Melbourne Grammar
Role: Head of Football
Gotch played 96 games of VFL/AFL football for Fitzroy and St Kilda from 1982-1990 and then became a distinguished VFL coach with Williamstown and then Casey. He coaches Williamstown to a premiership in 2003.
HENRY PLAYFAIR, St Kevin’s College
Role: Head of Football
Taking on the role as Head of Football at St Kevin’s College, Playfair went straight into coaching after an injury-riddled 68-game career for Geelong and Sydney. Playfair comes with extensive experience, coaching in a variety of roles at Sydney, St Kilda and Carlton from 2011-2020.
DANIEL HARFORD, St Kevin’s College
Role: Assistant coach
Harford was sensationally sacked as Carlton AFLW coach – with 15 months to run on his contract – after an internal club review at the start of this year, and he has since taken the reins as assistant coach for St Kevin’s. Harford, who coached 25 games for the Blues after an 162-game career for Hawthorn and Carlton, had coached at St Kevin’s Old Boys previously in the VAFA.
JOBE WATSON, Xavier College
Role: Head coach
The famous Essendon name is giving back to his old college after a brilliant 220-game AFL career. Xavs finished the APS season in fifth position with six wins in Watson’s debut year as the senior coach.
ADAM COONEY, Geelong College
Role: Head coach
Geelong College landed the Brownlow medallist in October, replacing long-time coach Luke Primus. Cooney had been coaching St Joseph's U16 side in the region. The former No.1 played 250 games for the Western Bulldogs and Essendon, with 219 of those coming for the Dogs.
DALE AMOS, Xavier College
Role: Head of Football
While not a former player, Amos has 13 years in the AFL system under his belt through his assistant coaching roles for Geelong and Carlton. Amos was appointed as Head of Football of Xavier College at the end of 2021. Amos is a renowned figure in Geelong, where he led South Barwon to three premierships as captain coach.
JACK SILVAGNI, Xavier College
The Xavier College alumni Silvagni has spent time this year assisting the boys’ side around his football commitments, providing forward and ruck guidance to the youngsters in particular.
HUGH GREENWOOD, Wesley College
The North Melbourne veteran is another current AFL player who has been spotted assisting on matchday for Wesley College outside of his duties.
NATHAN MURPHY, Melbourne Grammar
The Collingwood premiership defender assisted Melbourne Grammar around his AFL commitments for the Pies, sometimes lending a hand on gameday.
ASSOCIATED GRAMMAR SCHOOLS VICTORIA (AGSV)
BRENTON SANDERSON, Mentone Grammar
Role: Director of Sport
After an exceptional career at AFL-level both as a player and a coach, Sanderson is now the Director of Sport at Mentone Grammar. It follows his roles at Collingwood as an assistant coach, Head of the AFL Academy and Adelaide as its senior coach. In addition to his position at Mentone Grammar, he also coaches Eastern league powerhouse Balwyn.
PAUL HUDSON, Yarra Valley Grammar
Role: Head coach
Hudson has come into Yarra Valley Grammar and completely rejuvenated its football program. The 1991-premiership Hawk has brought a balance of professionalism and structure the school is relishing in. YVG was unable to get over Ivanhoe in last Saturday’s AGSV grand final but 2023 remained its best season to date.
BEN INGLETON, Ivanhoe Grammar
Role: Head coach
The former Saint – who played 25 games for St Kilda from 1985-1989 – replaced long-time Ivanhoe Grammar coach Roger Gill. He has been in the role for the past couple of years.
CHRISTINA BERNADI, Ivanhoe Grammar
Role: Head coach
Bernadi is the coach of Ivanhoe Grammar’s girls side and also provides assistance to Ingleton for the school’s boys team. A four club AFLW player, Bernadi was Collingwood’s leading goalkicker in 2018 and also played for Greater Western Sydney (seven games), Richmond (19 games) and took the field in one match for Carlton as an injury replacement.
TROY SCHWARZE, Peninsula Grammar
Role: Director of Football
After his 71-game AFL career with St Kilda, Schwarze proceeded to coach one of the great local footy dynasties with Sorrento. His Sharks competed in eight grand finals during his 11-year tenure and won six of them. He is now the Director of Football at his old school on the Mornington Peninsula, Peninsula Grammar.
ASSOCIATED CATHOLIC COLLEGES (ACC)
RICKY DYSON, Parade
Dyson has steered Parade for a number of seasons, guiding them to three successive ACC grand finals. He claimed his first title this season with an electric come from behind win over St Bede’s. Parade and Dyson now have a chance to win the Herald Sun Shield.
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