AFL Head Coach: Lead & Elevate School Football Program

Independentschools; Melbourne; On-site; AUD 120,000 - 170,000; Full time

Job summary

Wesley College Melbourne is seeking an exceptional Head Coach of AFL Football to provide strategic leadership and oversight of our AFL program across Years 7-12, spanning our three Melbourne campuses.

This is far more than a coaching role. It is a senior program leadership position responsible for shaping the vision, culture and performance of AFL at Wesley College, one of the College's flagship sporting programs for both boys and girls.

Qualifications

• Significant experience leading AFL programs within school, community, talent pathway or elite environments.
• High-level playing and/or coaching experience in AFL.
• Outstanding leadership, organisational and people management skills.
• Experience recruiting, developing and supporting coaching staff.
• The ability to connect and build strong relationships across the football community.
• A contemporary understanding of athlete development, high-performance sport and student wellbeing.
• Exceptional communication skills and the ability to inspire students, coaches and stakeholders.

Responsibilities

• Strategic leadership and oversight of the entire AFL program across Years 7-12.
• Designing and implementing a clear long-term vision for player and program development.
• Managing coach recruitment, allocation, mentoring and performance.
• Leading the professional development of coaching staff across all campuses.
• Overseeing seasonal, pre-season and off-season programming.
• Mentoring and supporting student-athletes on and off the field.
• Building strong relationships with AFL clubs, community football organisations and key stakeholders.
• Coordinating football tours, camps, representative opportunities and special events.
• Driving a high-performance culture while maintaining a strong focus on student wellbeing and engagement.
• Promoting participation pathways and excellence for both boys' and girls' football.

Skills

AFL program leadership

High-level AFL experience

Leadership & people management

Staff recruitment & development

Stakeholder relationship building

Athlete development knowledge

Exceptional communication

Job description

Wesley College Melbourne, a school of the Uniting Church, established in 1866, is one of Australia's leading and most respected co-educational independent schools. With an enrolment of 3,400 students from ECLC to Year 12, it comprises three metropolitan campuses in Melbourne, at St Kilda Road, Glen Waverley and Elsternwick, outdoor education sites at Chum Creek, Mallana and Lochend, and a Year 9 residential campus at Clunes.

Applications are open for anexceptional, dynamic and progressive Head Coach of AFL Football to provide strategic leadership and oversight of our AFL program across Years 7-12, spanning our three Melbourne campuses.

This is far more than a coaching role. It is a senior program leadership position responsible for shaping the vision, culture and performance of AFL at Wesley College, one of the College's flagship sporting programs for both boys and girls.

As Head Coach of AFL Football, you will lead the development, delivery and continual growth of a comprehensive College-wide AFL program. Working closely with students, coaches, staff and the wider football community, you will create an environment that fosters excellence, participation, leadership and personal growth.

Key responsibilities include:

• Strategic leadership and oversight of the entire AFL program across Years 7-12.

• Designing and implementing a clear long-term vision for player and program development.

• Managing coach recruitment, allocation, mentoring and performance.

• Leading the professional development of coaching staff across all campuses.

• Overseeing seasonal, pre-season and off-season programming.

• Mentoring and supporting student-athletes on and off the field.

• Building strong relationships with AFL clubs, community football organisations and key stakeholders.

• Coordinating football tours, camps, representative opportunities and special events.

• Driving a high-performance culture while maintaining a strong focus on student wellbeing and engagement.

• Promoting participation pathways and excellence for both boys' and girls' football.

The successful candidate will be an inspiring leader with a passion for developing young people through sport and a proven ability to build successful football programs.

To be successful, you will demonstrate:

• Significant experience leading and delivering AFL programs within school, community, talent pathway or elite environments.

• High-level playing and/or coaching experience in AFL.

• Outstanding leadership, organisational and people management skills.

• Experience recruiting, developing and supporting coaching staff.

• The ability to connect and build strong relationships across the football community.

• A contemporary understanding of athlete development, high-performance sport and student wellbeing.

• Exceptional communication skills and the ability to inspire students, coaches and stakeholders

Applications close at 5:00pm Friday6 November2026.

Applications will be reviewed as they are received, and interviews may commence prior to the application close date.

Wesley College is a child safe employer and is committed to the welfare of children and their protection. All potential employees and volunteers will be required to comply with the School's Child Safe Policy and Code of Conduct. Applicants will be required to undergo police and background checks in accordance with this policy