Page 58 - AFL Queensland 2014 in Review

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TALENT PROGRAM
ACADEMY AND HIGH PERFORMANCE COACH
Queensland’s U18 program entered a new era in 2014, kicking off with the appointment of its first full-time high performance coach, Adrian Fletcher.
Coming off 12 years’ experience as an AFL assistant coach, Fletcher brought with him a strong knowledge of AFL, the demands of the modern game and an understanding of the expectations of elite footballers.
This knowledge certainly paid off as Queensland finished runners-up in Division Two of the National U18 Championships and with a 3-3 record in an expanded TAC Cup program.
Fletcher worked closely with the Brisbane Lions and Gold Coast SUNS Academy coaches over the summer, to ensure a more streamlined approach this season.
In its fourth year, the Academy system has given players the chance to be in an elite summer training program and aims to provide an experience as close as possible to that of an AFL environment.
Fletcher said the move to continue to strengthen the relationship between the state program and the academies could only continue to benefit Queensland’s talented footballers.
“The Academy obviously provides a clearer pathway for kids,” he said.
“It’s an opportunity to experience that high performance environment and they have a greater chance to improve strengths and weaknesses.
Fletcher said that high performance environment in both the Academies and in the state teams was also focused on ensuring that the cream of the crop, wherever they’re from across the state, would be donning the “Q”.
“With that clearer pathway, we want to make sure the best kids are pulling on the Queensland jumper,” he said.
“It’s important to parents and kids, that they see there’s a fair system that rewards hard work.”
Coming from the AFL system, Fletcher said the most challenging element of his new role was dealing with players for whom football is not a full-time profession.
“I don’t get them for 11 months of the year,” he said.
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