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Overview of yourself and why the AFL Grad Program:

It's always been a dream of mine to work at the AFL, so it still feels surreal every time I arrive at work. Growing up in a footy-focused family, football was a constant topic of conversation and a regular weekend activity.  

Although I never played the game, I always wanted the opportunity to work for the AFL, connecting people and families through their shared passion and love for the game, just as I have experienced firsthand. 

I studied a Bachelor of Business, majoring in Human Resource Management. During my studies, I knew I wanted to manage a team someday, but I wasn't sure what area that would be in.   

I've always been passionate about technology and digital products, but I never imagined that passion would become my everyday job. 

My Team

After completing the AFL Graduate Program, I was offered a position with the AFL as the Digital Product Coordinator where I help coordinate the delivery, optimisation and ongoing improvement of digital products across AFL, AFLW and Club platforms.

My role involves working closely with internal stakeholders, Clubs and Telstra, our technology partner to support product enhancements, platform updates and new digital experiences across the AFL app, AFL.com.au and Club products.

I help bridge the gap between business requirements, fan needs and technical delivery, ensuring our digital products continue to evolve and provide a seamless experience for users.

Fast five   

What’s a typical week look like for you in the AFL Grad Program?  

After progressing from the Graduate Program into a Digital Product Coordinator role my weeks are now focused on supporting the delivery, optimisation and ongoing management of digital products across the AFL ecosystem.

No two weeks in the AFL Digital team ever look the same. A week usually involves working closely with internal AFL departments, Clubs and Telstra to understand product requirements, timelines and priorities, to then help coordinate this work through upcoming sprint cycles.

A key part of my role is supporting the build and configuration of landing pages and content hubs for marquee rounds and major AFL moments, such as Gather Round and Finals. This involves helping bring together content, commercial, event and product requirements to create digital experiences that are useful, engaging and easy for fans to navigate.

I also work closely with Clubs by helping build go-to resources, training material and configuration support for key digital products. Most recently, this included supporting Clubs through the configuration and training process for their new Club apps, helping ensure they felt confident using the new platform.

This role has allowed me to build on the foundations of my graduate experience while taking on greater responsibility in coordinating digital product delivery and helping improve the experience for fans, Clubs and stakeholders across our platforms.

What has been one of your highlights so far?  

One of my highlights so far is being selected to take part in the Emerging Leadership Program — NEXT, run by Phil Noseworthy. NEXT is designed to accelerate leadership growth through a dynamic blend of large-scale group workshops, self-paced online learning, small-group dialogue and insights from industry leaders.

Being selected as part of a small cohort of individuals from across the AFL and Clubs has been a meaningful milestone for me. I feel incredibly privileged to have been identified by the AFL as an emerging leader so early in my career. I’m excited for the opportunity to continue developing my leadership capability, broaden my perspective and learn from others across the AFL industry.

What skills have you developed as part of this program?  

During my time at the AFL, I have learned, developed, and broadened my skills in several key areas including Content Management System (CMS) proficiency, problem-solving, project management and communication.  

What advice would you give to our future grads?  

Two pieces of advice I would give to future grads are to be proactive and build strong relationships across the business. 

Be proactive and look for areas where you can contribute and propose new solution. Additionally, collaborate with colleagues from different departments to broaden your connections and gain a better understanding of the organisation.