At one stage or another, every AFL Senior Coach – both current and past – was promoted to the ‘top job’ for the first time.

Most graduated from some form of apprenticeship, spent learning the finer aspects of the craft and shaping their own unique coaching philosophies.

But until an opportunity at senior level presented itself, they were all at one time ‘untried’.

Justin Leppitsch’s path to becoming the Brisbane Lions’ Senior Coach is no different.

Leppitsch is aware that his new role will bring with it fresh challenges, but says that is part of the appeal.

“It’s my first time in this role, so there are a lot of things that will come up that I won’t be used to. It’s much easier as an Assistant Coach when the role is quite simplistic and one-dimensional,” Leppitsch said.

“I understand this is a multi-dimensional and difficult role, but I’m up for the challenge.

“Getting a role as Senior Coach is a big honour, irrespective of the club, and is something that all assistant coaches eternally strive for.

“It’s funny this game, it’s 90% preparation and 10% destiny, and it’s a bit ironic that the two times that I was ready as a player and a coach, it was the same destination.”

Recent AFL history should ease the minds of any Lions fans that might have had some reservations about the Club appointing an ‘untried’ Senior Coach.

Eight of the last nine AFL premiership coaches were appointed straight from serving apprenticeships as an Assistant Coach.

The only exception during that period was when Mick Malthouse led Collingwood to the 2010 flag after previous stints as Senior Coach at Footscray and West Coast.

Ross Lyon, however, could join Malthouse should he guide Fremantle to a maiden premiership win this Saturday after previously steering the ship at St Kilda. 

Lyon’s rival Grand Final coach, Alastair Clarkson, was ‘untried’ when Hawthorn appointed him at the end of 2004.

So too was 2011 premiership coach Chris Scott, who had spent just three years at Fremantle before taking the helm at Geelong.

As far as experience goes coaching within the AFL system, Leppitsch is as qualified as any of the current Senior Coaches at the time they were appointed.

In fact, of the 16 current AFL Senior Coaches (excluding Essendon and West Coast who are yet to appoint a Senior Coach for 2014), Leppitsch’s seven seasons as an Assistant Coach at both the Lions and Richmond ranks him eighth overall in terms of previous experience at AFL level.

Malthouse is clearly the most experienced, having spent 28 years as a Senior Coach before being appointed at Carlton this time last year, while Collingwood’s Nathan Buckley and St Kilda’s Scott Watters had just two years as AFL assistants before graduating to senior level.

Watters did, however, have extensive experience coaching in the WAFL before joining the Saints.

A list of the AFL apprenticeships served by all current coaches^ at the time of their most recent senior appointment is as follows:

Adelaide – Brenton Sanderson (6 years)
1 year @ Port Adelaide (Assistant/Development Coach)
5 years @ Geelong (Assistant Coach)

Brisbane Lions – Justin Leppitsch (7 years)
3 years @ Brisbane Lions (Assistant Coach)
4 years @ Richmond (Assistant Coach)

Carlton – Mick Malthouse (28 years)
6 years @ Footscray (Senior Coach)
10 years @ West Coast (Senior Coach)
12 years @ Collingwood (Senior Coach)

Collingwood – Nathan Buckley (2 years)
2 years @ Collingwood (Assistant Coach)

Fremantle – Ross Lyon (15 years)
4 years @ Richmond (Assistant Coach)
4 years @ Carlton (Assistant Coach)
3 years @ Sydney (Assistant Coach)
4 years @ St Kilda (Senior Coach)

Geelong – Chris Scott (3 years)
3 years @ Fremantle (Assistant Coach)

Gold Coast – Guy McKenna (6 years)*
2 years @ West Coast (Assistant Coach)
4 years @ Collingwood (Assistant Coach)

Greater Western Sydney – Leon Cameron (10 years)
8 years @ Western Bulldogs (Assistant Coach)
1 year @ Hawthorn (Assistant Coach)
1 year @ Greater Western Sydney (Assistant Coach)

Hawthorn – Alastair Clarkson (3 years)*
1 year @ St Kilda (Assistant Coach)
2 years @ Port Adelaide (Assistant Coach)

Melbourne – Paul Roos (15 years)
2 years @ Sydney (Assistant Coach)
8 years @ Sydney (Senior Coach)
3 years @ Sydney (Academy Coach)

North Melbourne – Brad Scott (3 years)
3 years @ Collingwood (Assistant Coach)

Port Adelaide – Ken Hinkley (10 years)*
1 year @ St Kilda (Assistant Coach)
6 years @ Geelong (Assistant Coach)
3 years @ Gold Coast (Assistant Coach)

Richmond – Damien Hardwick (5 years)
5 years @ Hawthorn (Assistant Coach)

St Kilda – Scott Watters (2 years)*
2 years @ Collingwood (Assistant Coach)

Sydney – John Longmire (9 years)
9 years @ Sydney (Assistant Coach)

Western Bulldogs – Brendan McCartney (14 years)*
2 years @ Richmond (Assistant Coach)
11 years @ Geelong (Assistant Coach)
1 year @ Essendon (Assistant Coach)

*Also had coaching experience at State League and/or local levels

^Essendon and West Coast are still yet to confirm their Senior Coach for 2014