The Brisbane Lions’ Senior Coach selection process will continue to progress after receiving approval from all Club Directors.

 

Brisbane Chairman, Angus Johnson, today sought a resolution from the Board to continue with the process, with all Directors approving its official commencement.

 

The process includes the appointment of a sub-committee, to be chaired by Dean Warren, the Lions’ General Manager – Football Operations. 

 

The other members of the sub-committee are Lions CEO, Malcolm Holmes, Lions Physical Performance Manager and retired Adelaide Crows star, Brett Burton, and independent panel members, former Lions’ Premiership-winning coach, Leigh Matthews, AFL Coaching Director, Peter Schwab, and AFL Coaches’ Association Operations Manager, Paul Armstrong. Armstrong will sit on the panel as a non-voting member.

 

The sub-committee will ultimately be responsible for recommending the preferred candidate for the Lions’ Senior Coach position to the Board.

 

“As Chair of the sub-committee, I have every confidence in this panel being able to determine and recommend to the Board the next Senior Coach of the Brisbane Lions,” said Warren, who joined the Lions in October 2010 from his previous role as National Community Development Manager for the AFL.

 

“There are a number of high-quality candidates available and we had already commenced early due diligence. Some preliminary discussions have taken place and we can now advance these. 

 

“I’d like to thank all Directors for their support for this process given its significance in securing the absolute best coach for our football team and football club.”

 

The process includes extensive criteria that candidates will need to meet to advance beyond the short-list stage.

 

The sub-committee will then invite selected candidates to take part in an interview process.

 

A recommendation following the interview process will then be made to the Board to ratify the appointment of the Lions’ next Senior Coach.

 

Warren will be the Club’s spokesperson on this matter. He will be made available to the media only when the Club is in a position to provide updates.

 

All media requests are to be made via the Club’s Communications Department. Direct enquiries will not be responded to by Warren or other members of the sub-committee.

 

Members of the Brisbane Lions’ Senior Coach Appointment Sub-Committee (Voting Members):

 

Dean Warren, Brisbane Lions General Manager – Football Operations (Chairman):

  • Appointed to his current position as General Manager – Football Operations, in October 2010
  • Previously the AFL’s National Community Development Manager, responsible for game development across the country
  • Member of the inaugural Brisbane Bears’ training squad
  • Member of the Brisbane Bears’ Supplementary List in 1989
  • QAFL Grogan Medal Winner in 1993
  • 170 QAFL Senior Games with Wilston-Grange and Kedron-Grange
  • Six-time Queensland Representative
  • Member of the Queensland Australian Football Hall of Fame

 

Malcolm Holmes, Brisbane Lions CEO:

  • Appointed to his current position as CEO in March 2011
  • Previously the CEO of New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing
  • Other executive management roles include: CEO of Brisbane Turf Club, CEO of Wellington Hurricanes in the Super Rugby competition, as well as a senior management positions with Australian Consolidated Press

 

Brett Burton, Brisbane Lions Physical Performance Manager:

  • Appointed to his current position as Physical Performance Manager in October 2010
  • Played 170 games and kicked 256 goals across 12 seasons with the Adelaide Crows (1999-2010)
  • Drafted by the Adelaide Crows with Pick No.16 overall in the 1998 AFL Draft
  • Claimed the AFL Mark of the Year award in 2009
  • Current member of the AFL Laws of the Game Committee
  • Formerly President of the AFL Players’ Association in 2010 – a position he held for a 12-month period

 

Leigh Matthews

  • 4-time AFL Premiership-winning Coach (Lions - 2001, 2002, 2003; Collingwood – 1990)
  • Coached Lions for 237 games – Club record (142-92-3 W-L-D Record)
  • Coached 461 AFL games in a career spanning 20 years (267-186-8)
  • Inducted as a Legend into the AFL Hall of Fame in 1996
  • Member of the AFL Team of the Century
  • Won 4 flags as player with Hawthorn (1971, 76, 78, 83 – Captain in 1983)
  • Inaugural Brisbane Lions’ Hall of Fame inductee (2012)

 

Peter Schwab, AFL Director of Coaching:

  • Appointed to his current position as AFL Director of Coaching in 2010
  • Previously the CEO of AFL Victoria (2007-2010)
  • Played 171 games and kicked 38 goals for Hawthorn from 1980-1991
  • Won three flags with Hawthorn as a player in 1983, 1986 and 1988
  • Coached Hawthorn for 104 games between 2000-2004