Essendon Football Club
AFLW Head of Strength & Conditioning
Essendon Football ClubAustria6 hours ago
Full-timeOther
ESSENDON FOOTBALL CLUB

The Essendon Football Club - “The Bombers” - are a professional sporting organisation in the Australian Football League, home to several teams, including AFL, AFLW, VFL, VFLW and Wheelchair Football programs. But we’re more than the game. At Essendon, unity binds us. We firmly believe that our strength comes from standing together as One Club, embracing our rich diversity, and uniting around a shared purpose. Our passion fuels every kick, every play, and every decision. The essence of the Essendon legacy is deeply woven into the fabric of Australian sporting calendar, through significant events such as the ANZAC Day and Dreamtime clashes, underscoring our commemoration and connection to national identity. Our heritage sets us apart, shaping our ethos and inspiring our journey. We strive to be better every day, pushing the boundaries and relentlessly pursuing excellence. But amidst the intensity of competition, respect remains paramount. We care about our impact on others, whether it's our teammates, opponents, or our community. When we ‘Don the Sash’, we do so with unity, passion, excellence, and respect guiding our every move, Always Striving toward our next triumph on the premiership stage.

About The Role

Reporting to the General Manager - AFLW, the AFLW Head of Strength and Conditioning is responsible for delivering a world-class strength & conditioning program for the Essendon Football Club AFLW Team. The role will also work collaboratively within the VFLW and Talent Pathway high performance teams to oversee all Strength & Conditioning requirements.

Key Accountabilities

The AFLW Head of Strength and Conditioning will manage the planning and implementation of the AFLW strength and conditioning program and provide support and guidance to VFLW & Talent Pathways, that delivers a world-class standard and a high level of individualisation in the following areas:

Strength and conditioning program delivery: Deliver a world-class strength and conditioning program targeted for the demands of AFLW football, that provides a high level of individualisation of:

  • Strength training prescription and supervision, cross-training prescription and supervision, individual player running prescription and supervision, recovery, monitoring of player wellness and freshness/fatigue, contribution to injury prevention and mobility protocols and team travel.
  • Oversee the GPS data collection and use of this data to build effective and appropriate load management for each player’s programming.
  • Provide coaching to players in developing correct techniques within their strength & conditioning programs to both prevent injury and improve performance.
  • Build a strong relationship with players and gain their trust in the strength and conditioning program.Record plans and report on progress using Team Build and any other databases system in use.
  • Work collaboratively with Coaches, Medical Staff and GM Footballs to ensure performance plans are aligned and requirements being met.
  • Consider the welfare and holistic management of a player in the context of the wider football program.

Injury Management: Work collaboratively with Head of Medical Services to ensure a world-class service is provided in terms of the day-to-day management of player injuries.

  • Provide consultation to Head of Medical Services in the planning and implementation of effective injury management and rehabilitation.
  • Endorse a ‘Return to Perform’ approach to injury management that considers both the physical and psychological demands of AFLW football.

Reconditioning: Prescribe and deliver training programs (in conjunction with medical & coaching stakeholders) to return players to perform at AFLW level

  • Prescribe and implement reconditioning sessions that prepare players to perform at AFLW level.
  • Ensure that injured players use their time to progress on their individual development plans, and that all reconditioning sessions relate back to each players development plan as well as the demands of the AFLW football.
  • Demonstrate, objectively where possible, that players have returned to AFLW fitness and strength.
  • Apply best practice load management.

Reporting and communication: Ensure a high level of communication and trust exists within key stakeholders within the football department.

  • Provide regular communication and a high level of transparency with key stakeholders including, but not limited to, the Head of Medical Services, Doctors, Coaches and General Managers within the football department.
  • Notes kept up to date and to a high quality throughout the rehabilitation process.

Facility upkeep and gym inductions: Take responsibility for safety, and state of equipment, within the gym, climate chamber and pool areas.

  • Undertake close monitoring of physical preparation equipment and maintain the high-performance equipment register.
  • Make recommendations to the GM - AFLW on equipment maintenance, replacement or acquisitions required for the effective running of the high-performance program.

Talent Pathways

  • Implement regular screening of talent pathway athletes and report to relevant stakeholders around readiness to train, in conjunction with the physiotherapist.
  • Deliver a pre-training warm up to participating talent pathway athletes, particularly through the James Hird Academy.
  • Ensure safe use of gym equipment by all talent pathway athletes and provide feedback if required.

Essential

ABOUT YOU

  • Experience working with elite athletes for 3+ years.
  • Evidence of success in Strength and Conditioning program design and practical implementation for elite athletes.
  • Evidence of success in reconditioning, rehabilitation program design and practical implementation for elite athletes.
  • The ability to work collaboratively within a multi-disciplinary team.
  • Exceptional work ethic and ability to provide a high level of energy in the workplace.
  • Ability to self-manage effectively to complete tasks to a high standard and work effectively under pressure.
  • Demonstrate strong interpersonal skills and the ability to build strong relationships with both the playing group and other key stakeholders within the organisation.
  • Remain in touch with cutting-edge and world-leading S&C, rehabilitation, and sport science practice.
  • Have a good understanding of, and the ability to utilise in practice, current sport science technology to help guide programming.
  • The ability to record professional notes and maintain an effective injury management and strength programming database.

Desirable

  • Experience or previous involvement with female athletes and Australian football.
  • Honours or Masters degree in Strength and Conditioning, Exercise, Health or related field specializing in the area of Physical Development.
  • Experience with athlete management systems.

Qualifications

  • Bachelor of Exercise Science (or equivalent)
  • Current ESSA or Level 2 ASCA accreditation or international equivalent
  • First Aid and Resuscitation certificate

Other

  • Current driver’s licence to travel to and from key stakeholder premises/meetings
  • Current Working with Children Check or ability to obtain one; and
  • Permanent Residency in Australia, or appropriate visa to work permanently.

TO APPLY

Please submit your application as soon as possible as shortlisting will commence immediately. Please include in your cover letter why you are a great fit for this role, and why you want to work with Essendon Football Club. Cover letters should be no more than one page, outlining what you can bring to this position.

With our commitment to promoting and protecting the safety and wellbeing of children and young people in our care, we undertake several screening processes to ensure this commitment is upheld. This includes ensuring all our people hold a valid employee Working with Children/Vulnerable People check and a satisfactory criminal history record check.

All applications will be treated with respect and confidentiality, and we endeavour to provide timely responses.

We politely ask not to be approached by recruitment agencies at this time.

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