FOOTBALL MANAGEMENT COURSES

ACCELERATOR

Managing and Leading a Club Football Department is a live online Accelerator course designed for those looking to build a career in AFL club football management. Delivered over two engaging online workshops, this course provides practical knowledge and real-world insight into how football departments are structured and led. Participants will explore core areas such as high performance programs, football operations, wellbeing, budgeting, and working with the media. You’ll connect with like-minded professionals, gain clarity on what it takes to lead a football program, and walk away with a certificate you can add to your resume and LinkedIn profile.

DATES: 5th & 12th November, 2025

TIME: 9am–12pm AEST

METHOD: ONLINE

POSITIONS: 20

INVESTMENT: One-Time or Monthly Payments over 6 or 12 Months

FACILITATOR: Brad Lloyd

ON-DEMAND COURSES

The Certificate in the Business of Australian Football is a comprehensive course designed to equip aspiring professionals with the knowledge and skills required to excel in various roles within the AFL industry.

  • Module 1: Master Talent Identification and Recruiting:
    Gain the skills to evaluate players, identify potential, analyse performances, and make informed decisions about talent.

  • Module 2: Learn the Foundations of AFL List Management
    Understand how to structure, analyse, and manage team lists, balance drafting needs, and negotiate contracts effectively, including understand the AFL Soft Cap, total player payments, collective bargaining agreements, and trade period processes.

  • Module 3: How to Lead and Manage Football Departments:
    Learn to oversee operations, high-performance programs, budgets, and risk management while integrating men’s and women’s programs.

  • Module 4: How to Succeed as a Player Agent
    Build expertise in player representation, including stakeholder management, contract negotiation, and marketing professional services.

Build your understanding of what makes a football club truly elite. Learn the foundations of club identity, culture, and high performance, and apply insights from one of the most respected leaders in the AFL. Gain real-world knowledge to elevate your impact inside any football organisation.

  • Module 1: What Makes an Elite Football Club
    Explore the core ingredients that define elite clubs, including leadership structures, people management and alignment across departments.

  • Module 2: Building Identity and Culture
    Learn how to establish and protect a strong club identity, define clear values and embed a culture that drives long-term success on and off the field.

  • Module 3: Building High Performance Environments
    Understand how to create and support high performance systems that allow players, coaches and staff to consistently perform at their best.

  • Module 4: Case Studies from Neil’s Career
    Apply lessons from real-world examples of elite clubs, drawn from Neil Balme’s 50+ years of experience across Richmond, Geelong, Collingwood and more.

MASTERS PROGRAM

By enrolling in the Master of Australian Football program, you get access to 7 x Apogee Sports courses.

This comprehensive program combines all of our course offerings into a single, powerful package designed to equip you with the knowledge, skills, and networks needed to excel in the AFL industry.

  • 3 x On-Demand & 4 x Accelerator Courses spaced over 12 months:
    You’ll get access to 3 x On-Demand courses, as well as all Accelerator courses across the course of the year. More information below.

  • Access to Industry Experts
    During your completion of the course, you’ll have access to our instructors to ask any questions that you may have about the industry and content.

  • Simple Online Access
    All our content can be accessed at the click of a button 24/7 and we have 6 month payment options available. You’ll also get a copy of all course material and recordings of Accelerator sessions following completion.

  • Career Support:
    During and after completing a course, you’ll receive a free career advisory call to help you map out the next steps of your career through networking and job applications..

  • Exclusive Events:
    You’ll receive invitations to exclusive events throughout the 12 month period where you can meet new people in the industry.

  • Merchandise:
    The first drop of Apogee Sports Merch is on it’s way and you’ll receive a piece of merchandise free of charge.

  • Professional Network
    Your network in football is guaranteed to grow through our Accelerator programs and exclusive events over the 12 month period.

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