I’ve had coaches I’d run through walls for. These are the five questions Essendon, Carlton and Tassie should ask

June 13, 2026 — 6:30am

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As Essendon, Carlton and Tasmania begin searching for their next senior coach, most of the attention will focus on credentials. Who’s the smartest tactician? Who has won premierships? Who has the strongest coaching resume?

Players tend to ask different questions. Can we trust them? Will they back us? What are they like when things aren’t going well?

Because from a player’s perspective, those answers often matter more than any line on a CV.

After more than a decade in elite sporting environments, I’ve become convinced there is no such thing as the perfect coach. There are simply different types of coaches, and different groups that need different things at different times.

I’ve played under coaches I would have run through a wall for. I’ve also played under coaches I struggled to connect with, and in those environments, I don’t think either of us got the best out of the relationship. Looking back, the difference was rarely football knowledge.

Elite coaches all understand the game. The difference was often leadership style.

One of football’s biggest misconceptions is that players all want the same thing from a coach. They don’t.

Some players thrive on inspiration. Others need structure. Some need belief. Others need accountability. Ultimately, what players are looking for is trust – and coaches build trust in very different ways.

Some are........

© The Sydney Morning Herald