Carlton Football Club is delighted to welcome George Lattouf to its coaching ranks.
Lattouf joins the Blues as part of a new joint initiative created by the AFL and AFL Coaches’ Association.
The ‘Club Coaching Diversity Program’ was launched on Monday morning, with six clubs assigned coaches to their football departments for the remainder of the season.
The objective is to provide community coaches with multicultural backgrounds exposure to the elite coaching environment, furthering their professional development and enabling them to make a significant contribution within their community club.
Lattouf, whose parents settled in Australia from Lebanon in the early 60s, grew up barracking for Carlton and has a passion for Aussie Rules.
“My parents became football followers barracking for Carlton because our church was located in Carlton in those days,” Lattouf said.
“My coaching methods are based on the team approach, mentoring young footballers to respect, set high standards and believe in one another.
“That’s what I believe will contribute to team success.”
Lattouf has played over 300 games in his football career, as well as coaching a variety of junior and senior teams in the NFL, VAFA, WFL and SFL.
In the lead-up to Multicultural Round, AFL General Manager Football Operations, Mark Evans, says he was pleased to see six clubs supporting the inaugural AFL Club Coaching Diversity Program.
“This program provides another layer in implementing the AFL’s Multicultural Strategy, which follows the announcement earlier this year of the Next Generation AFL Club Academies Program,” Evans said.
“This round we celebrate that many cultures make up our one game, and those cultures are not to be limited to those who play, but extend to those who administer, umpire and of course coach.
“The inaugural program will see the Brisbane Lions, GWS GIANTS, Sydney Swans, Essendon, St Kilda and Carlton appoint coaches with multicultural backgrounds to their football departments.
“These coaches, who are all linked to community clubs, will spend two days per week for the remainder of this season within AFL clubs,” he said.
