New off-field player development appointment

[Jesse Custer]

New off-field player development appointment​

Friday, 26 September 2008
Craig Rowston for essendonfc.com.au
Page 1 of 1
As part of Essendon’s commitment to having the best off-field development program for its players, the club today announced the appointment of Marcus Probert to the newly created position of athlete development co-ordinator.
Essendon managing director, Peter Jackson, said one of the main objectives of the role is to work closely with the young players, ensuring they have the support they need to become professional athletes.
The role also involves guidance and counselling; managing player transitions such as inductions, retirements and delistings; providing career planning support and utilising external support for players such as the Player Development Program provided by the AFL Players’ Association (AFLPA).
“Marcus will join the club’s people and culture department - which is led by Leigh Russell - and his appointment is the next step in the people development strategy we commenced in 2006,” Jackson said.
“Essendon is committed to providing the best possible development resources for our players and having a team of highly qualified staff dedicated to helping our athletes maximise off-field opportunities is essential to our long-term on-field success.
“It is important our players understand they are professional athletes and not just footballers. Part of being professional is to adapt as quickly as possible to the AFL environment and to get the most out of it and yourself and Marcus will play an important role in ensuring this happens.”
The CEO of AFLPA, Brendon Gale, today welcomed the appointment.
“The AFLPA is committed to working with AFL clubs in order to assist AFL players realise their potential through the provision of education, training and personal development opportunities,” Mr Gale said.
“Naturally, the AFLPA is delighted that the Essendon Football Club has resourced an additional full-time qualified person so players can achieve their off-field career goals.”
Probert comes to Essendon from the Collingwood Football Club where he is currently the Education and Welfare Officer.
Until recently, he was Collingwood’s clubhouse supervisor. He has a Bachelor of Applied Science (Human Movement), Bachelor of Arts / Psychology (Honours) and is just finishing his Masters in Applied Psychology (Sport Psychology).
Marcus has a solid background in welfare/youth services, including experience in providing guidance to young people who are in government care and drug and alcohol counselling.
“Marcus will be a great addition to Essendon’s People and Culture team, enabling them to strengthen the support they provide our athletes” Jackson said.
Probert will join Essendon on the 3rd November, 2008.
He is the latest in a number of key club appointments which includes Alan Richardson as an assistant coach (new position), Paul Hamilton as Football Operations Manager (new position) and Stuart Cormack as High Performance Coach (replacing John Quinn).

http://www.essendonfc.com.au/news/news.asp?nid=6095​

 

[The Dustbin]

Another appointment.... and from Collingwood.

 

[Wahooti Fandango]

Definitely wholesale changes at Windy Hill. Any remnants of Sheedy have now been removed. The Knightalution has begun in earnest.

 

[ant555]

Hmmm big Dave must have had too much on his plate. Maybe it was cutting inot his eating time

 

[Slattery_20]

3 Degrees. Wow. Enjoy that HECS debt.

 

[eth-dog]

definitely wholesale changes at windy hill. any remnants of sheedy have now been removed. the knightalution has begun in earnest.

go'd

 

[B-Bomber]

To say that any remnants of sheedy have been removed is both naive and insulting to the great man.

Clearly Essendon will feel the effects of his 27 years at the club for a long time to come, especially since he has been the spearhead for much of the way the club is today. Knights himself has said that he learned a lot from his time with Sheedy in particular about player discipline and always having a positive attitude -- IIRC he made a point that he is his own coach and does it this way but Sheeds experience certainly moulded his views on coaching.

 

[Colin D'Cops]

Another new appointment.

I think the team/staff will take a while to all gel, we've brought in about half a dozen new people to the club this off-season. Good to see we're making some bold changes to try and find the right mix, should ensure we'll have a good crack at the premiership in a couple of years time.

 

[Burzum]

It's good to see new people around the club.

 

[bomba4eva]

We are really looking to become an even more professional unit and I love it. The effects of all these changes may not kick in for a few years but this is great news for the future

 

[bigbrian]

Probert comes to Essendon from the Collingwood Football Club where he is currently the Education and Welfare Officer.
Marcus has a solid background in welfare/youth services, including experience in providing guidance to young people who are in government care and drug and alcohol counselling.​

Did a good job with Didak

 

[PressureCooker]

Any remnants of Sheedy have now been removed.

Davey, Dempsey, Dyson, Fletcher, Gumbleton, Hille, Hislop, Hocking, Houli, Jetta, Lay****, Lloyd, Lonergan, Lovett, Lovett-Murray, Lucas, McPhee, McVeigh, Monfries, Nash, Neagle, Reimers, Ryder, Slattery, Stanton, Watson, Welsh and Winderlich say hello