The Carlton Football Club, Foxtel and the AFL Coaches Association last week welcomed a group of grassroots football coaches to Ikon Park for the Blues’ #ThanksCoach Masterclass.

With coaches from Auskick to senior level football in attendance, the Masterclass provided an exciting opportunity to learn from those at the elite level.

Carlton coach Brendon Bolton began the program with an insight into his personal journey to senior coach as he explained his own coaching philosophy – ‘get comfortable with being uncomfortable’ – and advised the group of local coaches of ways to implement it in all levels of their own coaching development.

Bolton then opened the room to questions which saw him provide an understanding of the inner workings of the Carlton Football Club as well as give advice for the teams of the coaches in attendance.

Bolton speaks to the grassroots coaches. (Photo: FOX Footy)

Following Bolton, Blues development coach Mathew Capuano discussed how rookie footballers become stars of the game, before assistant coach Dale Amos concluded the Masterclass.

During his address to the group, Amos presented a video of NBA star Kobe Bryant which had personally inspired him, and used it as an educational tool for the local coaches. The Blues’ backline coach provided an overview of a typical week as an AFL coach and revealed how the grassroots coaches could implement aspects of what he does at AFL level within their own clubs.

Photo: FOX Footy

Designed by Foxtel and the AFL Coaches Association, the two-hour session was one of 10 to be conducted by clubs across the league, in an endeavour to educate and inspire local coaches to continue to encourage and develop the future stars of the game.

To all the local coaches, who shape the players, who shape the game, #ThanksCoach from Foxtel and the Carlton Football Club!