How the Best Coaching Subcommittees Unearth Successful Coaches

The appointment of a senior coach is one of the most pivotal decisions an AFL club makes, often determining whether a team enters a period of sustained success or faces a prolonged decline. A recent analysis by the Sydney Morning Herald has examined the role of coaching subcommittees over the last 15 years to identify the factors that lead to the successful selection of premiership-caliber coaches.

These subcommittees, which have operated since the start of the expansion era in 2011, act as the primary filters for identifying coaching talent. The influence of these groups can be long-lasting. industry figures such as David Noble, Peter Schwab, and Neil Balme provided contributions to their respective clubs that were still felt years after they had departed.

The composition of these committees typically follows a specific structure to balance football knowledge with organizational leadership. Most subcommittees consist of the club’s chief executive, the football manager, and a board member, who is usually the football director.

To avoid insular thinking, many clubs also include a respected external figure and a non-football professional with expertise in recruitment, leadership, or psychology. This approach has led clubs to recruit high-profile figures from other sporting disciplines to help identify the right candidates.

Examples of this cross-sport recruitment include:

• Former Socceroos and Tottenham boss Ange Postecoglou, who was involved in the appointment of Brendon Bolton at Carlton.
• Former Olympian and Hockeyroo Danni Roche, who played a role in the selection of Alan Richardson at St Kilda.
• Netball international Simone McKinnis, who was involved in the appointment of Brad Scott at Essendon.

The criteria for measuring the success of these subcommittees extend beyond simply winning premierships. The analysis considers coaches who achieved longevity or led their teams to multiple preliminary finals and grand finals as evidence of a prosperous tenure.

A key finding in the assessment of these “kingmakers” is that success in one area of the game does not automatically translate to the ability to identify talent. The data suggests that being a champion footballer does not necessarily make an individual successful in the coaching box, nor does being a premiership coach guarantee the ability to identify the next great coaching talent.

This dynamic is currently playing out at Carlton. In a development reported on May 28, 2026, West Coast premiership coach Adam Simpson has joined the subcommittee tasked with selecting the next senior coach for the club. While Simpson will not take on the coaching role himself, his experience is being utilized to help the club identify the right candidate to lead the team.

The strategic use of these subcommittees highlights a shift in how AFL clubs approach leadership. By integrating diverse perspectives from outside the immediate football department, clubs aim to mitigate the risk of failure and establish the foundations for a potential dynasty.