AFL 2022: Coaches survey identifies mental health and wellbeing as one of the most pressing issues for the coaching fraternity

A pre-season survey of AFL coaches has identified their take on the most pressing issues in the game. See the full results and have your say now.

AFL coaches have identified mental health as one of the most pressing concerns facing their fraternity as premiership coach Mick Malthouse described the issue as “gigantic”.

And the AFL Coaches Association say football department soft cap budget cuts are at the heart of the mental health and wellbeing of coaches, insisting the issue needs to be addressed as a “matter of urgency”.

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In an anonymous News Corp survey of the game’s senior and assistant coaches, more than three quarters of respondents considered mental health to be an issue among AFL coaches.

The findings in the poll – distributed to all 18 clubs – found 80 per cent of those who responded said mental health was a concern among the coaching group.

Asked what was the biggest issue facing the game, coaches listed losing good coaches from the game, soft cap reductions, overworking of football department staff and football staff leaving due to cost cuts among their concerns, while bullying was identified by one respondent.

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The AFL coaches association says coaches are being asked to do a lot more with less support. Picture: Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty Images

AFLCA chief executive Alistair Nicholson said a lot more was now being asked of coaches and the game would struggle to retain and attract coaches if changes were not made to the soft cap budget.

“The results of the survey are unsurprising and similar to the strong feedback we have been receiving from our member coaches,” Nicholson said.

“At the heart of the issue is the continuation of $63 million reduction in football department soft cap budgets in 2020 due to Covid. Coaches are being asked to do a lot more with a lot less, and this is feeding directly into their mental health and wellbeing concerns.

“We are working with the AFL and clubs to begin restoring the soft cap budget cuts, which needs to be addressed as a matter of urgency.

“It will be a challenge for the game to retain and attract coaches unless we improve their conditions. Beginning to restore the soft cap budget cuts for coaches is a crucial first step.

“The result of this is that coaches do not feel appropriately valued as key members of the industry and it is critical this should be the case, as they are responsible for preparing, mentoring and managing the playing group on and off the field.”

Premiership coach Mick Malthouse says the pressure on coaches is growing with increased media spotlight and scrutiny. Picture: Michael Klein

Three-time premiership coach Malthouse was not surprised by the findings, saying the issue had become a growing concern with increased media spotlight and scrutiny on coaches.

“It’s gigantic (this issue),” Malthouse said.

“I am not surprised (by the survey results) and I am not surprised there will be added mental pressures to these coaches as time goes on.

“Every step of your life as a coach, the longer you stay in it, the higher those expectations become, so therefore more the mental strain if you like.

“Right now, (Geelong coach) Chris Scott, once out of the eight in his full career and yet there is pressure on him and (West Coast coach Adam) Simpson won a premiership two or three years ago and there is pressure on him.

“Coaches …. get it inside – top-end at the board – supporters and media. They are constantly under scrutiny to justify almost every move they make instead of focusing on what they are there to do and that is to win games of footy.”

Twenty-one coaches including senior and assistants took part in the survey, with almost 62 per cent of respondents saying the media was too invasive in the private lives of coaches, but Malthouse said that was “not going to change”.

The coaches’ concerns extended to the impact of online trolls and social media abuse on their players. Asked if the impact of social media trolling on their players was an increasing concern, 90.4 per cent of coaches answered yes.

Malthouse said the demands on coaches to fulfil commitments outside of the coaching box also added pressure.

The premiership coach said the scrutiny on coaches also impacted their families.

“It mounts up on those who have got families …. once you learn it, you take with you the added pressure of what effect this is having on your family,” Malthouse said.

Malthouse said the demands on coaches to fulfil commitments outside of the coaching box also added pressure.

“There is a lot less coaching during the week and a lot more club activity – meeting coteries and media demands and doing this and doing that than when I first started,” Malthouse said.

“I reckon clubs could sit down and analyse what’s the most effective way to have their coach coach the way he wants to coach and rid himself of things that don’t necessarily need him to be doing.

“We all think we are big boys, that is probably a fault with males. We all think we are the big boys and don’t need it (help). Some say they do and get it, but it’s such a small minority.”

Coaches back mid-season trades, AFL expansion

AFL coaches have backed ideas to grow the game as they called for the introduction of a mid-season trade period and the league’s expansion to 20 teams within 10 years.

In a pre-season survey of the competition’s senior and assistant coaches conducted by News Corp, two thirds of respondents wanted to see a mid-season trade period to open up player movement.

AFL coaches also backed Tasmania to have its own stand-alone team in the next five years.

The survey found almost three-quarters of respondents believed the state deserved to have its own team.

As the investigation into a 19th licence in the AFL continues, 71.4 per cent of those coaches surveyed said the next team in the league should be based on the Apple Isle.

The push for a Tasmanian-based team has gathered momentum this year after the state’s government unveiled plans at the start of the month for a new $750 million, 27,000-seat Hobart stadium, which would be built if the state was granted entry into the AFL.

Craig McRae is stepping into the hot seat as Collingwood coach this year. Picture: Mark Kolbe/Getty Images

Asked if the competition should expand to 20 teams in the next 10 years, 66 per cent of coaches answered yes.

But the coaches were divided (47.6 per cent yes and no) on whether a Darwin-based team would be a worthwhile investment.

Coaches wanted the AFL to stop tinkering with the rules of the game as 57.1 per cent said the game had made too many rule changes.

Holding the ball, the stand rule, no third man up, capping rotations and the six, six, six rule were among the rules coaches listed as having the most detrimental effect on the game.

Three-time premiership coach Mick Malthouse said the AFL had tinkered the game too much.

“Are there too many rules (changes)? Of course there are,” Malthouse said.

“They must sit down at the end of every year and go, ‘What can we change, we’ve got to be effective, let’s change something’.

“Let’s get over ourselves. Our game was a very effective game.

“The best rules have been the ones that look after the player; the circles, fantastic, because it protects the ruckmen, head over the ball, yes, protect the head, sliding in, yes protect the boys’ knees. They are the best rules they have ever come up with.”

The coaches were comfortable with the AFL’s efforts to prevent concussion incidents with 90.4 per cent saying enough was being done.

And 66.6 per cent of coaches did not want the mandatory 12-day concussion break to be increased.

On field this year, premier Melbourne was rated as the team to beat ahead of grand finalists the Western Bulldogs.

Richmond superstar Dustin Martin was rated as the best player in the competition ahead of Bulldogs skipper Marcus Bontempelli and Demons premiership captain Max Gawn.

Originally published as AFL 2022: Coaches survey identifies mental health and wellbeing as one of the most pressing issues for the coaching fraternity