Harley visits women’s AFL in Canberra

AFL Canberra Women’s Development Squad welcomed a special guest to training this week as AFL NSW/ACT General Manager and former Premiership captain Tom Harley joined the group for a training and leadership session.

Harley joined the squad’s training and provided advice and feedback to the women, with several excited Geelong fans taking the opportunity to get photos and autographs with one of their heroes.

The retired footballer joined in the occasional handball at the training session and doled out marking advice, suggesting the women try to read what’s on the ball as they mark it.

Following the training session, Harley addressed the group, acknowledging the achievement of Eastlake’s Melissa Backhouse in having the National Women’s Championship’s Rising Star Medal named after her.

Harley shared his thoughts on leadership and its importance in football, highlighting the importance of the link between leadership and teamwork. “Great leadership produces great results,” Harley said.

He also stressed that great teams are not results driven. Using examples from his time playing for Geelong, Harley said that without a solid behavioural framework created from within, a team would not perform well.

He credited the behavioural framework Geelong set in place after the 2006 season when they finished 10th, with the results taking them to the AFL premiership in 2007.

Harley also promoted the importance of positive self talk and self image, and the impact that has on performance.

He told the group that everyone should have one thing that they could be the best at, and even if they’re not playing well, to focus on that one area where they can beat their opponent. If they can do that, then they can walk away from the game with their head still held high.

Harley said he thought that good leaders were “ruthless and empathetic at the same time” but to be a good leader, you had to be a good follower first.

In order to be the best players they can, he told the squad to know what they want to stand for; to do the right thing for the right reason at the right time.

At the conclusion of the session, Harley said women’s football was in great shape in the ACT.

“I find it really inspiring,” he said. “The camaraderie and environment that women create is something a lot of men’s teams could learn from.”