The Carlton Football Club has bolstered its football department with the appointment of Aaron Greaves as Coaching and Innovation Manager.
A continuous support to AFL Senior Coach Michael Voss, Greaves will help to enhance the development of the coaching group, inclusive of meetings, training and in the coaches box, with the objective to instil a performance plan for each assistant and development coach.
He will also work alongside Senior Assistant Ashley Hansen and Director of High Performance Andrew Russell in the implementation of training, providing valuable support to ensure every element of the team’s preparation consistently delivers quality outcomes.
The playing group will benefit significantly, with Greaves to facilitate a Leadership and Cultural program that will enhance the high-performance environment and player development on and off the field.
Entering the AFL with Melbourne in 2012, Greaves spent a year as a development coach before being promoted to midfield assistant in 2013 and ultimately Head of Player Development.
At the start of the 2014 he accepted a position at Port Adelaide as midfield development coach, which would begin a six-year journey at the Power alongside now Carlton AFL Senior Coach Michael Voss.
During that period (2014-2018), Greaves continued to impress as he rose through the Power’s coaching ranks, becoming Head of Player Development in 2015, Head of Player and Coach Development in 2016 before being promoted to Head of Football Development for his final two seasons in South Australia.
A move back to Victoria saw Greaves spend time with North Melbourne as Head of Player Development and has most recently filled the role of AFL Field Umpires Coach since the end of 2019.
A graduate of the Essential Management Skills of Emerging Leaders management course at Harvard University, the 43-year-old has also completed personal development at the Boston Celtics, Manchester United and Liverpool FC.
With an underlying passion to work with and get the best out of people, Greaves said the role was the ideal opportunity to do that at an exciting time at IKON Park.
“My real passion is developing people and creating learning and high-performance environments that value roles and connect all parts of our program. To be provided with an opportunity to do that and lead a great group of people at the Carlton Football Club is an incredible opportunity that I am extremely grateful for.”
“Working with Michael for many years at Port Adelaide allowed us to develop a great relationship. We have been on a great journey together and share similar passions and values. My role supports both Michael and our Coaching group and allows them to spend their time where they can be most impactful, whilst continuing to growth and develop within their roles.”
“My responsibilities extend to the playing group as well by leading our Leadership and Culture program. We will work collectively to integrate this program into all that we do and develop a high-performance culture together.”
“I am really enjoying the collaboration and work we are doing with the new Coaching group in building our program and look forward to sharing it with the players next week”.
Blues Head of Football Brad Lloyd said Greaves had built an extensive CV in coaching and people development.
“The career Aaron has built in the game over 13 years now is impressive,” Lloyd said.
“It is not only his time in the game, but the specific experience he has had within it which makes him the perfect addition to this newly created role within our football department.
“We were extremely pleased to have assembled the coaching staff we have, however we know that just as crucial to that is establishing an environment that empowers them to get the best out of themselves and by extension the players they work with.
“That will be a key responsibility for Aaron, as will driving our Leadership and Culture program within the department – which we know will be crucial to the high-performance environment we are creating.”
