The position will prove the final plank in the restructuring of the Lions’ recruiting department, and will be a key step in ensuring the Academy and recruiting functions are completely aligned.
After thoroughly reviewing the recruiting process across the AFL in 2011, Lions National Talent Manager Rob Kerr proposed the Club adopt a new structure with a vision to creating specific accountabilities across different areas.
The opportune timing of this change has allowed the Lions to retain the valuable services of former National Recruiting Manager Graeme Hadley, who has returned to his home State of Western Australia.
Within the new structure, Hadley will fill the permanent part-time role of Recruiting Manager for Western Australia and South Australia. He will supervise the activities of the Club’s scouts in both States and will be accountable for identifying the best talent from these strong football regions.
Stephen Conole, who joined the Lions’ recruiting team in 2011, will undertake the role of Senior Recruiting Manager.
Conole will be accountable for identifying talent in Victoria, Tasmania and New South Wales, as well as being responsible for coordinating the day-to-day operations of the recruiting function. He will receive support from part-time scouts in both Tasmania and New South Wales.
Andrew Farrell, who performed the part-time role of vision analyst and Victorian scout in 2011, has been promoted to the full-time position of Vision Coordinator and AFL List Analyst. This role will become particularly important with the advent of Free Agency in 2012.
Farrell will be largely responsible for monitoring the performance of listed players from across the AFL, with a particular focus on eligible free agents and those developing in State Leagues.
The final piece of the Lions’ recruiting puzzle will be in place once the Club appoints a Northern and Pacific Talent Identification Officer.
This new position will be a true talent identification role, with the successful candidate required to find young athletes from a full range of sports within the Lions’ Academy zone and offer them the opportunity to become part of the Hyundai Lions Academy.
The Club is also working in partnership with AFL Queensland to ensure that these AFL prospects are not missed.
As well as sourcing talent for the Academy, the incumbent will also be accountable for identifying and monitoring potential future draftees that are currently playing in Queensland and the Northern Territory.
The final component of the role will be to monitor and identify talent from the developing Pacific Region which includes Papua New Guinea, New Zealand and the Pacific Isles.
Kerr believes the new recruiting structure will provide his team with greater focus and accountabilities.
“I’ve been keen to give our recruiters clear responsibilities for different regions,” Kerr said.
“While this may lead to some parochial advocacy, I welcome strong debate about the merits of different players from each region as we refine our targeted list.”
“My own role will continue to involve cross-checking the talent being promoted by the recruiting team, and facilitating the discussions and debates that lead us to our final decisions. The collaborative approach we’ve brought to our final decision making over the last two years appears to be working well.”
“I’m particularly pleased we have been able to retain Graeme Hadley’s experience, and am confident that we will know more about individual players than ever before as we endeavor to find the most suitable talent for the Brisbane Lions,” he said.
Considering one of the Club’s key strategic goals is to have 20% of the playing list made up from Hyundai Lions Academy graduates by 2016, Kerr said it is also imperative that the best local athletes and footballers find their way into the Academy program.
“I’m looking forward to finding the right person for our new role,” Kerr said.
“The right person will create a nexus between the identification of young talent and satisfying the recruiting criteria we have in place at the Lions.”
“Creating that genuine alignment between the recruiting function and the Academy is critical. This will require a particular skill set which should include a high level of understanding of human movement, skill acquisition, and a strong background in talent identification.
Please CLICK HERE for the full job details and application instructions surrounding the new recruiting position at the Lions.
