James Begley appointed to Freo Coaching Panel

[jo172]

Key football appointments for 2008
3:07 PM Fri 19 October, 2007 | Back

By Keith Black,

for fremantlefc.com.au

News
Fremantle Football Club Chief Executive Officer Cameron Schwab today announced two key football appointments for season 2008.

In making the announcement Mr Schwab said “that following our end of season review, the club set out to re-establish its coaching team for 2008 and beyond and it is very pleasing that we have been able to secure the services of each of our targeted candidates for key roles.”

“With former captain Chris Bond joining as General Manager - List Development, including a role as opposition coach, and with Dean Wallis and Chris Scott joining with Peter German, we now have a formidable coaching team under the leadership of recently appointed Senior Coach Mark Harvey,” said Mr Schwab.

“We have also been successful in securing James Begley to our Senior Management Team as General Manager – Leadership and Development.

“We expect to complete our football staff appointments shortly with the addition of a Skills Coach,” Mr Schwab said.

The appointments announced today are:

Chris Scott – Assistant Coach

The two-time Brisbane premiership player will join the club as an Assistant Coach. Chris retired at the end of the 2007 season after 215 games that included the 2001 and 2002 premierships with Brisbane. He made his AFL debut in round 1 1994 with the Brisbane Bears against Sydney at the ‘Gabba after being taken at selection 12 at the 1993 National Draft.

“Chris shows outstanding coaching attributes, knowledge and understanding of the game,” said Fremantle Chief Executive Officer Cameron Schwab. “It is fantastic to have a person who has built great respect as a player, who is fresh out of the game to complement our experienced coaching team.”

Chris was a member of the 1993 Victorian Teal Cup and won the Alan Schwab Medal as Best-on-Ground in the Teal Cup Grand Final. He won the AFL Rising Star Award in 1994 and was awarded Brisbane’s Best First-Year Player that year and was a member of their first finals team in 1995.

Chris won the Merrett/Murray Medal as the Brisbane Lions Best and Fairest player in 1998, their Most Professional Player Award 1999, was also vice-captain from 1999 to 2004, a member of the pre-season Grand Final Side in 2001 and played in the International Rules Series that year. He has finished in the top ten for Brisbane Best and Fairest Award on six occasions. He is a Life Member of the Brisbane Lions.

Chris recently retired as one of the most respected footballers, renowned for his courage, fierce determination, no nonsense attitude and ability to get the most out of his game.

James Begley – General Manager – Leadership and Development

The club will take its player development to the next level with the appointment of James Begley as General Manager - Leadership and Development.

Reporting to Chief Executive Officer Cameron Schwab, James will be responsible for the club’s leadership and personal development programmes for all players and staff. James, a former St Kilda and Adelaide player entered full time leadership consulting with Leading Teams after he retired in 2005.

Since 2001 James has been facilitating a range of team and performance programmes for Leading Teams within the AFL, NRL, and SANFL as well as the AFLPA and a range of corporate organisations and government agencies.

Fremantle Chief Executive Officer Cameron Schwab said that “we believe this appointment is a very important initiative for the club as we seek to take our leadership development to the highest possible level from a club, team and individual perspective.”

James is 27 years of age, originally drafted in 1998 by St Kilda at selection 22 from Sturt in the SANFL. He was nominated as a Rising Star in 2001 and played 36 games for St Kilda before moving to Adelaide and playing 25 games from 2003 for a total of 61 games before his retirement in 2005.

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Interesting choice. While James always had talent in the end he was a pretty underwhelming player. An interesting choice to put in the coaching box:eek:

Good luck to him all the same:thumbsu:

[McLeod23]

To say Begs was an 'underwhelming' player doesn't do him justice, IMHO. I thought he showed he was a serious top class performer before injuries cut him down.

I'm interested to know how he apparently began working with teams in the AFL, SANFL and NRL in 2001 when he was still playing for us? Is this a typo or was Begs simply an amazing time-manager?

[- PC -]

Congrats to JB and hope it is a successful career for him

[Stiffy_18]

Good luck to him I say. :thumbsu:

Certainly a bit of left field appointment. McLeod23, IIRC Begley was involved in a lot of the off field work at the AFC and Sturt in his time here. He was one player that was planning for life after football because he realised his body was giving up on him. He is much smarter than your average footballer.

He was a very talented player but he kept getting some nasty injuries. I still remember his first game for us against Brisbane at the GABBA where he was excellent before getting cleaned up by Leppa.

Chris Scott looks like a good appointment IMHO :thumbsu:

[FlyingCrow]

I always though him as more a coach than player...He will do well.

[hayden sumner]

Good luck to James and his coaching career.

[McLeod23]

Good luck to him I say. :thumbsu:

Certainly a bit of left field appointment. McLeod23, IIRC Begley was involved in a lot of the off field work at the AFC and Sturt in his time here. He was one player that was planning for life after football because he realised his body was giving up on him. He is much smarter than your average footballer.

He was a very talented player but he kept getting some nasty injuries. I still remember his first game for us against Brisbane at the GABBA where he was excellent before getting cleaned up by Leppa.

Chris Scott looks like a good appointment IMHO :thumbsu:

Thanks for that, Stiffy.

Agree that Chris Scott will be a huge positive for Freo - if he can have the same impact that Brad had on the Pies this year, the Dockers are shoe-ins for a finals position in '08.

[garth p]

Good appointment and good luck to James. He has the ability to succeed in this new endeavour.

[acg_204*]

I'm interested to know how he apparently began working with teams in the AFL, SANFL and NRL in 2001 when he was still playing for us? Is this a typo or was Begs simply an amazing time-manager?

I seem to recall that was one of the critisisms of Begs by some on this board, that along with his 'journalistic' career he had a few too many outside projects and didn't have enough passion for footy itself.

[WheresGroomgone]

To say Begs was an 'underwhelming' player doesn't do him justice, IMHO. I thought he showed he was a serious top class performer before injuries cut him down.

I'm interested to know how he apparently began working with teams in the AFL, SANFL and NRL in 2001 when he was still playing for us? Is this a typo or was Begs simply an amazing time-manager?


I think this is more a reference as to when he started working with Mclean's Leading Teams, just as many other players have studies or interests in hotel's, gyms etc James was involved in this company. His retirement came about due to him having his third shoulder recon and under instructions from surgeons. Great bloke, good footballer and in this role will be a very handy asset, good luck to him.

[Mad Dog]

Onya Begs.......a good leap forward in his quest to remain involved in footy. He is a great thinker and has a great footy brain.

Complete your apprenticeship at Fremantle - and head our way in 2 or 3 years....:thumbsu:

[- PC -]

Onya Begs.......a good leap forward in his quest to remain involved in footy. He is a great thinker and has a great footy brain.

Complete your apprenticeship at Fremantle - and head our way in 2 or 3 years....:thumbsu:

In time for Triggy to step up to Bills job..or alternatively when Reidy retires to the peninsula

[BlackDouglas]

Congrats to JB and hope it is a successful career for him

I concur :thumbsu:

[NikkiNoo]

In time for Triggy to step up to Bills job..or alternatively when Reidy retires to the peninsula

Nah Triggy to the AFL ;)

Good luck to James, as others have said he had a great football brain and intelligence and leadership was natural for him. Was sad to see injuries get the better of him.

[johnnypanther]

Nah Triggy to the AFL ;)

Good luck to James, as others have said he had a great football brain and intelligence and leadership was natural for him. Was sad to see injuries get the better of him.


now thats a good idea - but i think Triggy may be too intelligent and professional for that mob over in AFL house

[cocka]

Heard Robert Shaw on SEN talking about James Begley. He worked as a consultant to Sydney in their premiership year of 2005 and Geelong this year. Not a bad resume! They wanted him on board in WA because logisitcally to far away to consult from eastern sea board.