AFL Gippsland is set to re-launch its Coach Developer Network in 2026, strengthening support for coaches across all levels of community football.
The program is designed to build confident, capable and connected coaches, ensuring clubs across the region can deliver positive, engaging and high-quality football environments.
The Coach Developer Network provides direct, practical support within clubs across the season — at training sessions, on game day and through ongoing development work. Support includes mentoring for junior and senior coaches, observation of training sessions, assistance with session planning and delivery, feedback on coaching behaviours and environments, and guidance to align with best-practice principles and the “Gippsland Way”.
Importantly, the program is free and available to all clubs, with support tailored to the specific needs of each coaching group. The focus is on hands-on, in-club development, ensuring coaching improvement is practical and applied in real football environments.
The 2026 program will be led by a group of experienced Gippsland football figures. Shane Antrobus brings extensive community coaching experience and a strong focus on training environments.
Bob McCallum is a long-standing contributor to Gippsland football with a strong record in coach support and club culture development. Bianca Helmuth-Pask is a highly regarded coach developer with experience across community and female football pathways, and a key contributor to coach education programs.
Together, the team will work closely with clubs to provide practical, meaningful support aimed at improving both coach capability and player experience.
Clubs and coaches can access the program flexibly, including requests for Coach Developers to attend training sessions, club visits, coaching workshops, and one-on-one or small-group mentoring. Coach Developers will also feature across Gippsland at key coaching workshops and Gippsland Coaching Academy sessions during the season.
The re-launch reflects AFL Gippsland’s ongoing commitment to investing in coaches as the foundation of strong, sustainable clubs. By developing better coaches, the aim is to create better environments for players, improving retention, development and the overall community football experience across the region.
