What can Daniel do?
Give a quick overview of your work experience (jobs, internships, volunteering)?
Game Development Officer at both AFL Victoria and NRL Victoria. Coaching Internship at Northern Knights Football Club
What technical or industry-specific skills do you bring?
I bring experience in community football development, player development and stakeholder engagement through AFL Victoria. I also have skills in talent identification, recruiting, football analysis and program delivery.
What tools/platforms/software are they proficient in?
I've used SportsCode at uni and Microsoft Word and Excel.
What qualifications, certifications, or degrees do you hold?
Diploma and Bachelor's in Sports Coaching and Development. Certificate in AFL Talent Identification and Recruiting.
When I set a goal, I put in the work to achieve it, and I’ll bring that same dedication, professionalism and positive attitude to any team I’m part of.
I combine genuine passion for the AFL industry with a strong work ethic and a willingness to keep learning. I’m proactive, resilient and committed to continuous improvement. When I set a goal, I put in the work to achieve it, and I’ll bring that same dedication, professionalism and positive attitude to any team I’m part of.
What steps has Daniel taken to break into the sports industry?
I’ve completed a Bachelor's degree in Sports Coaching and Development and a Certificate in Talent Identification and Recruiting. I’ve gained practical experience with AFL Victoria, actively built my professional network on LinkedIn, attended industry events and consistently applied for AFL and AFLW opportunities to continue growing my experience and connections.
Daniel's interest in sport all started from (take this from their why)
I want to work in the sports industry because AFL has always been my passion, and I want to build a career where I can make a meaningful impact. I enjoy helping players and clubs improve, and I’m motivated by the opportunity to contribute to the game through talent identification, recruiting and football operations. Being able to combine my passion with my career is what drives me every day.
Where does Daniel want to go?
Next 6 - 12 months | Next 5 - 10 years |
|---|---|
My goal is to secure a full-time role within an AFL club or the AFL in talent identification, recruiting or be promoted in AFL Victoria as a Participation Coordinator. I also want to continue expanding my industry network, gain hands-on experience in recruiting, and keep developing my knowledge so I can build a long-term career in the AFL industry. | I aim to be established in a leadership role within an AFL club or the AFL, specialising in talent identification, recruiting or football operations. I want to be recognised as someone who helps build successful football programs, identifies elite talent and makes a lasting impact on the game while continuing to grow as a leader and industry professional. |
What sporting problem keeps Daniel up at night, and how would you solve it?
One problem I’d love to help solve is ensuring talented players aren't overlooked because they come from smaller regions or less recognised pathways. I’m passionate about talent identification and want to contribute to a recruiting system that gives every player a fair opportunity to be recognised based on their potential and performance.
What is Daniel like?
What kind of environment do you thrive in?
I thrive in a collaborative, high-performance environment where people are passionate about achieving a common goal. I enjoy working with motivated teams, learning from experienced professionals and being challenged to continuously improve while making a meaningful contribution.
When have you had to show resilience in your life or career?
Breaking into the AFL industry has required a lot of resilience. Despite completing my Bachelor's degree, gaining experience with AFL Victoria and continuing to develop my skills, securing a full-time role has been challenging. Rather than giving up, I’ve continued building my network, completing additional qualifications, applying for opportunities and looking for ways to improve. That persistence has strengthened my determination and reinforced my commitment to building a long-term career in the sports industry.
What about Daniel interests outside of work?
What are your interests outside of work?
Love comics, sports, video games, and a bit of foodie.
What is your favourite sporting moment?
2023 Semi-final win against Melbourne at MCG
What’s your ideal holiday?
Going to Europe.
If you had 30 minutes to pick the brain of anyone, who would it be and why?
I’d choose Pep Guardiola. His ability to build successful teams, develop players and continually adapt his approach has made him one of the greatest coaches in sport. I’d love to learn how he identifies talent, creates high-performance environments and maintains success over such a long period. I believe those lessons would be invaluable as I pursue a career in talent identification and recruiting within the AFL industry.
What’s one book or podcast that’s helped your career you recommend?
Atomic Habits by James Clear has had the biggest impact on my career. It taught me that consistent, small improvements lead to long-term success. That mindset has helped me stay disciplined, continue developing my skills, build my network and keep working towards my goal of a full-time career in the AFL industry.
Additional details
Where in the world are you located, and where are you open to work?
Living in Melbourne, and I want to stay in Melbourne
What is the most important consideration for you in your next role?
To go to the next challenge and get more experience in the industry.
What others say about Daniel
Managers and colleagues have consistently described me as:
"Daniel has a positive attitude and is always willing to help the team."
"He is hard-working, reliable and can be trusted to get the job done."
"Daniel is a great team player who brings professionalism and enthusiasm to everything he does."
What questions does Daniel have for employers?
What qualities separate your highest-performing employees from everyone else?
What skills or experiences do you believe are most important for someone wanting to build a long-term career in the AFL industry?
If I started tomorrow, what would success look like in my first 90 days?
What opportunities are there for professional development and career progression within your organisation?
What challenges is your team currently facing, and how could someone in this role help solve them?
What advice would you give someone looking to build a successful career in talent identification and recruiting?
Looking at my background, what is one area you think I should improve to become a stronger candidate?
Got an open role? Share it with us and we’ll line up the right players for you - Submit a Job