Melbourne’s private schools spending big on AFL coaches to mentor future stars of the game
Some of the state’s top private schools are bankrolling AFL greats such as Jimmy Bartel, Nathan Brown and Scott Pendlebury to coach the next generation of footy stars.
Education
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Some of the state’s top private schools are spending big bucks on securing former AFL players and coaches to lead their college football teams— and it’s reaping rewards.
Footy icons such as Jimmy Bartel, Nathan Brown and Scott Pendlebury, are mentoring the stars of the future at the elite schools, with dozens of footy prodigies going on to be drafted.
Despite schools continuing to grapple with staff shortages, private colleges are still vying for the best educators in the business and sport is no exception.
The celebrity coaches are rumoured to receive generous remuneration packages for their hard work, including subsidised school fees which could save them tens of thousands per year.
At Haileybury, students who are part of the school’s football program are led by head coach Matthew Lloyd — a former Essendon player— with the support of Collingwood’s Scott Pendlebury.
More than 70 students have gone on to play VFL or AFL football, including premiership players Jack Gunston and Angus Brayshaw, twin brothers Max and Ben King, 2017 North Melbourne draft pick Luke Davies-Uniacke and North Melbourne AFLW draftee Bella Eddey.
Haileybury head of sport Matt Dwyer said the school’s experienced coaching staff offered students a “high-performance environment with a heavy focus on the basic fundamentals of the game”.
“The number one criteria (for our coaches) is they are quality people who are as passionate and driven about Haileybury football as our students,” he said.
Students wanting to pursue the school’s football program must still complete their Victorian Certificate of Education (VCE).
Meanwhile, Geelong Brownlow medallist Jimmy Bartel will be stepping into the role of head of football at Caulfield Grammar School this year, with students also being coached under the guidance of former St Kilda and North Melbourne leading midfielder Nick Dal Santo, respected coaching specialist Anthony Phillips and former Hawk Alex Woodward.
It’s hoped the strong team will continue to drive the school’s success this season, with the 1st Boys consistently finishing among the top Associated Public Schools (APS) while the 1st Girls remain undefeated since the introduction of the APS Girls competition in 2022.
A Caulfield Grammar spokesman said the school had a proud history of developing talent, with many of its students drafted into the AFL and VFL, including Murphy Reid, Jasper Algar and Patrick Retschko who were picked by Fremantle, Richmond and Geelong respectively in last year’s draft.
“The school has also produced trailblazers in the AFLW, including Sophia Hurley who was awarded Sydney’s best and fairest in 2024 and Issy Grant who has solidified her position as Western Bulldogs’ best 22,” he said.
The school’s football program caters to all levels of ability from middle school academy sessions to the elite performances of the 1st Boys and 1st Girls teams.
Elite regional schools offering football programs have also recruited AFL stars to lead the next generation of football rising stars, including Geelong College which has former Collingwood and Saints premiership backman Nathan Brown as head of football.
Geelong young gun Toby Conway and midfielder Tom Atkins, both ex-collegians, also have returned to “lend a hand” to the school’s football teams.
Former Western Bulldogs and Essendon player Adam Cooney is the senior boys coach at the school, while non-AFL player James Couzens, who has 25 years of coaching experience, mentors the school’s women’s program.
Brown said coaching school football teams was a “great launchpad” for AFL stars’ coaching careers.
“It’s a really nice grounding for ex-AFL players or current AFL players wanting to dabble into coaching,” Brown said.
“But the number one thing I want to try and get with all our coaches — whether they’re AFL players or not — is we just want good role models for our young people.”
Post his AFL career, Brown was a builder before he “fell into” the director of coaching position.
“The opportunity actually came across my wife’s desk…she said ‘this would be brilliant for you Nathan, something you really love and (will) connect you back to the sport’,” he said.
“So I just went and applied, (got) interviewed and never looked back and really loved it.
“We are in a really good place building a strong program, the wins will come. It’s about having a great place to be and being strong role models for the rest of the school.”
As for St Patrick’s College Ballarat, the school’s coordinator of football Howard Clark said “it takes a village to give a student-athlete the chance to reach the highest levels of AFL”.
“When I took on the role of coaching 1st XVIII in 2001, the program was in a very different place; our numbers were low, enthusiasm was limited and our results reflected that,” Mr Clark said.
“But alongside Mark Waddington and with the leadership of Dr Peter Casey, we developed a strategic plan that set the foundation for future success and three years later we won our first Herald Shield Premiership, led by Richmond premiership player Shaun Grigg.”
Currently Jason Lappin, who fulfilled various coaching and analyst roles for North Melbourne and then Geelong, is the school’s first XVIII coach and director of sport.
He is supported by former Western Bulldogs senior coach and current Port Melbourne VFL coach Brendan McCartney.
But being a member of the school’s football program isn’t just about playing the sport — it’s also about broadening students’ perspectives and strengthening their understanding of leadership and responsibility.
Mr Clark said this was done through a three-year camp cycle, where players are taken to different destinations including a Melbourne camp, trip to Darwin and Tiwi Islands and a 17-night venture to Ireland, London and the Western Front.
“Our broader goal is to provide a holistic program that shapes respectful young men who are well-prepared to make a positive impact on society,” he said.
The year 12 students also take on a leadership role by coaching and umpiring the year 7 teams.
“This ongoing cycle of leadership, respect, and responsibility is what makes our football program so much more than just a sporting competition - it’s about shaping well-rounded young men ready to make their mark on the world,” Mr Clark said.
Other APS and Associated Grammar Schools of Victoria members that have football coaches with ties to the AFL include Scotch College, Xavier College, Wesley College, Brighton Grammar, Geelong Grammar and Mentone Grammar.
Parents pay between $35k and $45k maximum a year in tuition fees for their children to attend these schools, depending on the college.
Meanwhile Associated Catholic College (ACC) members whose football clubs are led by former AFL players and coaches are Parade College, St Joseph’s Geelong and St Bernard’s College, with ACC executive officer Paul Fahey adding 10 students from ACC schools were drafted into the AFL and VFL last year.
Government schools Western Heights, Rowville Secondary College and Maribyrnong College - that all offer dedicated sports programs— also have coaches with ties to the VFL and AFL.
Aussie rules football is only one of dozens of sports offered over the duration of the school year, with some schools also sourcing athletes who specialise in other sports to lead their sporting teams.
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