The 14 prospective coaches entering Elite Coaching Program

Fourteen prospective AFL coaches have been granted entry to the league’s new Elite Coach Program.

The 18-month course will expose the AFL’s best assistant coaches to leadership, innovation, culture and reflective practice methods from across the world of sport.

Storytelling, the media, managing staff, creating culture and presenting to boards will also form part of the program, which is being facilitated by New Zealand Rugby high performance coach and development manager Alex McKenzie.

The 14 assistant coaches were granted entry to the program after an interview process run by former Adelaide coach Neil Craig, ex-Australian netball coach Lisa Alexander and McKenzie.

They include: Hayden Skipworth, Daniel Pratt, Josh Fraser, Leigh Adams, Jaymie Graham, Joel Corey, Shaun Grigg, Murray Davis, Zane Littlejohn, Xavier Clarke, Jamie Maddocks, Mark McVeigh, Troy Chaplin and Corey Enright.

The program, which starts on June 24, is funded largely by the league in conjunction with the AFL Coaches’ Association and has been two years in the making.

The group will be addressed by a variety of AFL premiership coaches while also being exposed to other sports.

Completing the course is obviously no guarantee of securing an AFL head coach role, but it is the highest level of coaching accreditation the league can provide and offers an insight into those considered most likely to next be appointed.

Carlton, Essendon and Tasmania are currently searching for their next senior coach.