Over the past two months, I have been working as the interim General Manager of Football Operations at the Brisbane Lions and I have thoroughly enjoyed this role and my time with the Lions.
The end-of-year review that was implemented by myself and organisational specialist Terry Coyne brought about a lot of change within the organisation.
The review highlighted that the club had taken a direction which had lead it away from the current trends in football and all of those involved agreed that it was time to revamp how they went about their business. So season 2010 was significant in that it highlighted the need for change.
The Brisbane Lions’ new General Manager of Football Operations, Dean Warren, started with the club this week and will take charge of the Football Department working closely with Senior Coach Michael Voss.
The Club completed an extensive review of the Football Department which now enables Michael to devote his time and energies fully on coaching and developing the players, in conjunction with his coaching team.
Shane Woewodin and Gary O’Donnell have been added to the coaching panel, and they bring fresh eyes and experience to the Club to support Jade Rawlings, Adrian Fletcher and Beau McDonald and from what I have seen at this early stage there is a good synergy between the group.
The Player Development Department has been restructured to ensure that these dedicated staff spend their time entirely on Development. Darren Trevena, an experienced campaigner in this role, along with Manny Lynch and Nathan Clarke make a well-resourced and experienced team to bring our young players along quickly. Nathan will coach the reserves and he will have 3 assistant coaches in Clint Watts, Matthew Smith and Greg Lonsdale.
The Reserves will operate under a new structure this year which will be beneficial to the young Lions players and the group from the Western Magpies who will be part of the reserves program. The Lions and the Magpies have entered into an alliance whereby most of the top-up players will come from the Magpies. This means training together more and building more of a team presence with a commitment to winning and development. We believe this relationship will help both parties.
The Club needs and wants to further build its relationship with the local football community and this program will be part of that.
The physical performance of the players will be under the management of Brett Burton and his team, including Daniel Comerford, Alex Clarke and Matt Hass. Brett, just out of the game, is very well qualified in this area and he has first-class people working with him.
I have been impressed by the approach the Board has taken - our new Chairman Angus Johnson has led the charge and accepted that the new Board has plenty of challenges in front of it and they must tackle them accordingly.
To say the club has been busy is an understatement and as easily as a club can steer itself away from the right path, it can also be capable of getting back on the path very quickly.
There is a huge amount of work to be done both on and off the field but as a club now working as one - Board, Management, Football, Administration and Supporters - I can see it heading in the right direction.
With everyone being prepared to work hard we can achieve great things as a football club. The beauty of our game is that element of uncertainty and this Club and its supporters should look forward to the coming years.
