‘Higher aspirations’: Bombers coach looking to continue club’s coaching lineage
His two predecessors have gone on to bigger and better things, and North Launceston coach Brad Cox-Goodyer is hellbent on continuing that tradition.
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North Launceston coach Brad Cox-Goodyer is convinced had he known what he does now as a youngster, he would have made a better fist of his AFL dream.
It’s why the ambitious Bombers leader now wants to ensure he “doesn’t die wondering” as he strives to emulate the successful coaching career paths of his predecessors at the club.
Cox-Goodyer has certainly done his chances of getting noticed no harm by spearheading North Launceston’s current 12-match win streak, which has locked up a top two TSL spot.
A two-time Alastair Lynch medallist, Cox-Goodyer also leads the league’s goalkicking this season and is a five-time flag winner at state level.
With Tasmania set to have a VFL team from 2025, Cox-Goodyer indicated he’d throw his hat in the ring to see if there are any opportunities to progress his career at home.
“I’ve got higher aspirations for myself, and I always want to do the best I can because I’m a pretty motivated person, and being around like minded people motivates me even further,” he said.
“Whether that’s Tassie VFL, whether there’s an opportunity there, (but) if that doesn’t come up then I’ll definitely be exploring other options.
“If there’s opportunities I’ll definitely be putting my hand up, and if you get rejected it is what it is.
“If you don’t ask the question or put your hand up, you’re never going to know the answer. You’ve got to put yourself out there.”
Other leaders in the Bombers’ inner sanctum have little doubt Cox-Goodyer is capable of advancing through the ranks.
Still just 30, Cox-Goodyer believes his experiences as a young player, the regrets he has and the lesson learned, has helped him relate to his young group at the Bombers.
“When I came through at that age our senior club wasn’t going that well and we were getting flogged every week,” he said.
“While we had some really good players, I just don’t think we necessarily had those leaders to lead a young group, or give advice to younger players.
“I’ve certainly looked back at that and didn’t want it to be like that (now), and want to help as much as possible.”
Cox-Goodyer tells his young players it’s more what they’re doing away from the field than on it which will help them reach their goals.
“Most people are going to rock up, train and play. If you’ve got natural ability you’re going to go OK there, but what are you doing to get the best out of yourself?,” he said.
“Are you doing extra gym sessions, are you doing extra recovery, are you eating and sleeping right?
“All that stuff I’ve learned over the journey has probably helped me play at a high level now I’m a bit older. But I still firmly believe if I had done that when I was 16 to 18 years of age potentially I could have made a better fist of it.
“That’s done and dusted now, all I can do is look towards the future and that might be through coaching.”
Cox-Goodyer has witnessed firsthand what doors TSL success can open.
Taylor Whitford won two flags as North Launceston coach, with Cox-Goodyer as his captain, before the latter took over the top job in 2021.
He was appointed Casey Demons VFL head coach this year after serving an apprenticeship as assistant at the Melbourne-affiliated club.
Another Bombers dual premiership-winning coach, Zane Littlejohn, coaches Hawthorn VFL team Box Hill and is also the Hawks’ talent development manager after six years in a similar role at Brisbane Lions.
Asked if his Tasmania VFL aspirations go as high as the head coaching role, Cox-Goodyer said: “Who knows?”
“Obviously I know Taylor very well, and there’s a lot more younger coaches coming through like Andrew McQualter.
“He’s not in his forties yet and he’s doing a pretty good job as an interim coach at Richmond
“I think that (relating to current generation) plays a massive part in it.
“I think kids are a bit different these days, whether that’s social media or whether they’re more sensitive or whatever it might be.
“I know what I was taught by older coaches, but also know what it’s like to be a young person. With that mix I can definitely relate to the kids coming up, and building a relationship with them is probably my biggest strength as well.
“Zane (Littlejohn) won two flags and was in footy full time by his late twenties.
“There’s opportunities there if you’ve got the knowledge. The days are gone I think where it’s just about experience, it’s what you can do.
“Even through my work I’ve learned some things that correlate to coaching in terms of dealing with people, having those hard conversations.
“I need to deal with some difficult people at work, and through that it helps me have difficult conversations as players.”
Cox-Goodyer played his 235th TSL game last weekend, level with Glenorchy coach Josh Arnold.
Barring injury, the pair will both overtake former Launceston star and games record holder Jay Blackberry (237) later this season.
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