Being sacked is one of several themes touched on in The Chosen Few, a compelling documentary dissecting the life cycle of an elite-level coach through the experiences of those who live (and have lived) the business. The film was produced and directed by Peter Dickson.
Michael Voss talks frankly about his dismissal from the Brisbane Lions last year, suggesting “he’d been sideswiped” and admitting he wasn’t sure who he could trust when he fronted the media the next day while some of the players and staff looked on.
West Coast’s Adam Simpson jokes about the finite nature of the business: “I’ve told my wife it’s not going to end well.”
The film also focuses on coaches dealing with tragedy in their own lives and those of their players, with the Sydney Swans’ John Longmire emotionally describing the impact of the death of Jarrad McVeigh’s child Luella three years ago.
“It’s something I still look back on. There are so many things that are much bigger than football. They taught me a lot.”
Collingwood’s Nathan Buckley and Gold Coast’s Guy McKenna talk honestly about motivating players.
“You’ve got 45 young men – some hinged, some unhinged. It’s an emotional and challenging environment,” Buckley says.
Carlton’s Mick Malthouse explains his sometimes-testy relationship with the media, suggesting what he wants is for his interrogators to “be prepared”.
Fremantle’s Ross Lyon admits he partly deals with stress by eating. “I’ve had periods where I put on a fair bit (of weight),” he says with a laugh.
In The Chosen Few, Dickson has continued the trailblazing storytelling style he and his late brother Rob introduced to the AFL landscape several years ago.
He was given extraordinary access inside the workplaces and homes of 17 of the 18 current coaches (Essendon’s Mark Thompson declined to participate) and also conducted extensive interviews with a host of former coaches.
A highlight of the film is the roundtable discussion with coaching legends John Kennedy, Ron Barassi, Leigh Matthews, David Parkin and Denis Pagan.
The Chosen Few, produced for AFL Media, follows Dickson’s The Final Story series, which focused on key stories from past grand finals.
The Chosen Few will air in Melbourne, Adelaide and Perth on Channel 7 at 9.30pm and in Sydney and Brisbane on 7Mate at 10.30pm, on Friday, September 26.
