AFL Performance Tips for Strength & Conditioning Coaches & Footballers
Prepare Like a Pro with Jack Mclean
Welcome to the “AFL Performance Tips for Strength & Conditioning Coaches & Footballers" your go-to resource for invaluable insights into the world of elite sports. We're here to empower footballers and high-performance staff with the knowledge and expertise needed to excel in the AFL arena. Prepare to take your game to the next level with our expert guidance.
In this podcast, we tackle a range of burning questions often asked by those striving for excellence in the AFL. From understanding the distance AFL players cover and their training regimen to breaking into elite sports as a strength & conditioning coach and exploring pathways to the AFL, we've got you covered.
Every Monday, we release a new episode that provides updates on upcoming live interviews and fresh insights from AFL players, senior coaches, sports psychologists, strength and conditioning coaches, sports dietitians, and other leading figures in the industry. These experts share their career journeys, success stories, and practical tips for athletes and high-performance staff alike.
Don't miss our weekly live conversations on the Prepare Like a Pro YouTube channel, where you can watch these discussions and get notified about new content. For more resources, freebies, and blog posts, join our newsletter, and stay connected with us on Instagram. Your feedback matters, so let Jack know how we can make our podcasts even better and suggest the topics you'd like us to cover next.
To explore the wealth of information we offer, visit our website at https://preparelikeapro.com/, and if you're ready to take your training to the next level, join our academy membership at https://preparelikeaproacademy.com.au/. Get ready to prepare like a pro and unlock your full potential in the world of AFL high performance! Also don’t forget to subscribe to our YouTube channel: https://youtube.com/@PrepareLikeAPro to get more high performance value!
In this podcast, we tackle a range of burning questions often asked by those striving for excellence in the AFL. From understanding the distance AFL players cover and their training regimen to breaking into elite sports as a strength & conditioning coach and exploring pathways to the AFL, we've got you covered.
Every Monday, we release a new episode that provides updates on upcoming live interviews and fresh insights from AFL players, senior coaches, sports psychologists, strength and conditioning coaches, sports dietitians, and other leading figures in the industry. These experts share their career journeys, success stories, and practical tips for athletes and high-performance staff alike.
Don't miss our weekly live conversations on the Prepare Like a Pro YouTube channel, where you can watch these discussions and get notified about new content. For more resources, freebies, and blog posts, join our newsletter, and stay connected with us on Instagram. Your feedback matters, so let Jack know how we can make our podcasts even better and suggest the topics you'd like us to cover next.
To explore the wealth of information we offer, visit our website at https://preparelikeapro.com/, and if you're ready to take your training to the next level, join our academy membership at https://preparelikeaproacademy.com.au/. Get ready to prepare like a pro and unlock your full potential in the world of AFL high performance! Also don’t forget to subscribe to our YouTube channel: https://youtube.com/@PrepareLikeAPro to get more high performance value!
Episodes
Mentioned books
Oct 19, 2025 • 14min
#154 - Gymnastics Centre: The Secret to Developing Explosive Power
Highlights from the episode:
✅ Why choosing the right gym center defines your athletes’ progress
✅ How to structure exercises across different training floors
✅ A success story on transforming performance through gymnastic centers
✅ Inside a real sample program that drives elite-level results
Do you have feedback on the show? We would love to hear from you. Send us your feedback and tell us what you love and what you think could be better. And, if you’re enjoying the show, please leave us a review.
Feedback: https://preparelikeapro.com/contact/
Review: https://link.chtbl.com/PLPlivechats/
Show notes: https://preparelikeapro.com/gymnastics-centre-the-secret-to-developing-explosive-power/
Are you ready to enhance your game? Our program is designed to propel footballers, like yourself, towards more excellent fitness, speed, and strength, ensuring you’re fully prepared to dominate on the field!
Book a FREE footballer discovery call
at https://calendly.com/plp2/15min
🚀 Ready to level up your gaming skills in record time? Join our exclusive Game Speed Coaching Program today! With personalized coaching, you'll unlock your full potential and dominate the competition.
🕒 But hurry we're only accepting 10 participants for this round! Secure your spot now before it's all gone!
Click here to join and reserve your spot: https://bit.ly/game-speed-coaching-program
Don't miss this opportunity to take your speed to the next level. Act fast and start your journey towards becoming the fastest player on game day!
Oct 16, 2025 • 4min
#bitesize - The 5 Phases of Return to Running Performance Post-Injury
Highlights from the episode:
✅ Why every injury recovery needs five distinct phases
✅ The frustrating recovery phase and understanding “good vs bad” pain
✅ What the “run before you run” phase really trains in your body
✅ How to measure progress in the reloading phase using real match data
✅ How high intensity actions prepare athletes for real game chaos
✅ The biggest mistake athletes make when re-integrating into training
Do you have feedback on the show? We would love to hear from you. Send us your feedback and tell us what you love and what you think could be better. And, if you’re enjoying the show, please leave us a review.
Feedback: https://preparelikeapro.com/contact/
Review: https://link.chtbl.com/PLPlivechats/
Show notes: https://preparelikeapro.com/the-5-phases-of-return-to-running-performance-post-injury/
Are you ready to enhance your game? Our program is designed to propel footballers, like yourself, towards more excellent fitness, speed, and strength, ensuring you’re fully prepared to dominate on the field!
Book a FREE footballer discovery call
at https://calendly.com/plp2/15min
🚀 Ready to level up your gaming skills in record time? Join our exclusive Game Speed Coaching Program today! With personalized coaching, you'll unlock your full potential and dominate the competition.
🕒 But hurry we're only accepting 10 participants for this round! Secure your spot now before it's all gone!
Click here to join and reserve your spot: https://bit.ly/game-speed-coaching-program
Don't miss this opportunity to take your speed to the next level. Act fast and start your journey towards becoming the fastest player on game day!
Oct 12, 2025 • 42min
#352 - Colin Griffin: From Achilles and Calf Injury to Reconditioning and Peak Lower-Leg Performance
👉 Highlights from the episode:
✅ The role of fear and perception in injury recovery
✅ The most overlooked mistakes in calf and plyometric training
✅ Why calf injuries keep coming back and how to fix them
✅ Using ultrasound to guide calf and Achilles rehab
✅ Measuring tendon strain for smarter, individualized loading
Do you have feedback on the show? We would love to hear from you. Send us your feedback and tell us what you love and what you think could be better. And, if you’re enjoying the show, please leave us a review.
Feedback: https://preparelikeapro.com/contact/
Review: https://link.chtbl.com/PLPlivechats/
Show notes: https://preparelikeapro.com/colin-griffin-from-achilles-and-calf-injury-to-reconditioning-and-peak-lower-leg-performance/
Are you ready to enhance your coaching? Uncover the strategies to build a thriving online platform, liberating yourself from the time-for-money constraints while pursuing a career as an AFL S&C coach.
Book a FREE coaches discovery call
https://calendly.com/plp2/15min
Oct 9, 2025 • 6min
#bitesize - Derek Hansen, Sprint Coach and Return-to-Play Specialist
Highlights from the episode:
✅ What sprint splits can tell you about acceleration and top speed
✅ How slow-motion video exposes hidden movement inefficiencies
✅ Why pushing at “10 out of 10” can actually make you slower
✅ When helping everyone costs your own wellbeing as a coach
✅ Why great coaches are rarely praised for preventing injuries
Do you have feedback on the show? We would love to hear from you. Send us your feedback and tell us what you love and what you think could be better. And, if you’re enjoying the show, please leave us a review.
Feedback: https://preparelikeapro.com/contact/
Review: https://link.chtbl.com/PLPlivechats/
Show notes: https://preparelikeapro.com/derek-hansen-sprint-coach-and-return-to-play-specialist/
Are you ready to enhance your coaching? Uncover the strategies to build a thriving online platform, liberating yourself from the time-for-money constraints while pursuing a career as an AFL S&C coach.
Book a FREE coaches discovery call
https://calendly.com/plp2/15min
Oct 5, 2025 • 58min
#351 - Adriano Arguedas Soley Reveals Smarter RTP Solutions with Submaximal Testing
👉 Highlights from the episode:
✅ What is submaximal testing
✅ How Adriano’s 3-minute, 13k/h protocol simplifies monitoring
✅ Pete Cavanagh’s research about Kenyan runners
✅ How sub maximal testing can measure improvement in performance
✅ Tips for coaches to implement an accurate submaximal test
Do you have feedback on the show? We would love to hear from you. Send us your feedback and tell us what you love and what you think could be better. And, if you’re enjoying the show, please leave us a review.
Feedback: https://preparelikeapro.com/contact/
Review: https://link.chtbl.com/PLPlivechats/
Show notes: https://preparelikeapro.com/adriano-arguedas-soley-reveals-smarter-rtp-solutions-with-submaximal-testing/
Are you ready to enhance your coaching? Uncover the strategies to build a thriving online platform, liberating yourself from the time-for-money constraints while pursuing a career as an AFL S&C coach.
Book a FREE coaches discovery call
https://calendly.com/plp2/15min
Oct 2, 2025 • 7min
#bitesize - Effective Approach to Athlete Profiling and Speed Development
Highlights from the episode:
✅ Inside the high-performance certificate
✅ Breaking down speed development essentials
✅ How jump testing profiles athletes
✅ When athletes jump high but lack quickness
✅ What it means to jump quick and high
✅ When athletes are quick but lack height
Do you have feedback on the show? We would love to hear from you. Send us your feedback and tell us what you love and what you think could be better. And, if you’re enjoying the show, please leave us a review.
Feedback: https://preparelikeapro.com/contact/
Review: https://link.chtbl.com/PLPlivechats/
Show notes: https://preparelikeapro.com/effective-approach-to-athlete-profiling-and-speed-development/
Are you ready to enhance your coaching? Uncover the strategies to build a thriving online platform, liberating yourself from the time-for-money constraints while pursuing a career as an AFL S& Coach.
Book a FREE coaches discovery call
https://calendly.com/plp2/15min
Sep 28, 2025 • 22min
#153 - What Coaches Often Miss About ACL Injury Prevention
Highlights from the episode:
✅ Top three tests every coach need before clearing an athlete to play
✅ Why reactive training with chaos beats traditional rehab methods
✅ The strength markers that determine when athletes can start sprinting
✅ How to monitor athletes after they return to prevent re-injury
✅ Expert resources that will transform your ACL prevention program
Do you have feedback on the show? We would love to hear from you. Send us your feedback and tell us what you love and what you think could be better. And, if you’re enjoying the show, please leave us a review.
Feedback: https://preparelikeapro.com/contact/
Review: https://link.chtbl.com/PLPlivechats/
Show notes: https://preparelikeapro.com/what-coaches-often-miss-about-acl-injury-prevention/
Are you ready to enhance your coaching? Uncover the strategies to build a thriving online platform, liberating yourself from the time-for-money constraints while pursuing a career as an AFL S&C coach.
Book a FREE coaches discovery call
https://calendly.com/plp2/15min
Sep 25, 2025 • 6min
#bitesize - Greg Haff on The Truth About Periodization and Athlete Development
Highlights from the episode:
✅ What periodization actually means for long-term athlete success
✅ Why the best coaches work with junior athletes, not elite ones
✅ How parents accidentally create or destroy athletic potential
✅ Why we're drowning athletes in useless data and losing coaching instincts
✅ The truth about velocity-based training for strength coaches
Do you have feedback on the show? We would love to hear from you. Send us your feedback and tell us what you love and what you think could be better. And, if you’re enjoying the show, please leave us a review.
Feedback: https://preparelikeapro.com/contact/
Review: https://link.chtbl.com/PLPlivechats/
Show notes: https://preparelikeapro.com/greg-haff-on-the-truth-about-periodization-and-athlete-development/
Are you ready to enhance your coaching? Uncover the strategies to build a thriving online platform, liberating yourself from the time-for-money constraints while pursuing a career as an AFL S&C coach.
Book a FREE coaches discovery call
https://calendly.com/plp2/15min
Sep 21, 2025 • 43min
#350 - Tom Tombleson on High Performance Reconditioning
👉 Highlights from the episode:
✅ Why mentors shape better coaching decisions
✅ How to identify when an athlete is performance ready
✅ How he measures his technical model
✅ Exercise for hamstring strain
✅ How RTP differs for development athlete’s vs elite professionals
Do you have feedback on the show? We would love to hear from you. Send us your feedback and tell us what you love and what you think could be better. And, if you’re enjoying the show, please leave us a review.
Feedback: https://preparelikeapro.com/contact/
Review: https://link.chtbl.com/PLPlivechats/
Show notes: https://preparelikeapro.com/tom-tombleson-on-high-performance-reconditioning/
Are you ready to enhance your coaching? Uncover the strategies to build a thriving online platform, liberating yourself from the time-for-money constraints while pursuing a career as an AFL S&C coach.
Book a FREE coaches discovery call
https://calendly.com/plp2/15min
Sep 18, 2025 • 4min
#bitesize - How to Land Your First Full Time Contract in Pro Sport
Highlights from the episode:
✅ Why qualifications alone won’t get you hired
✅ Fastest pathways into full-time high performance
✅ How long you need at semi-professional level
✅ The must-have academic qualifications today
✅ The career skill I wish I built earlier
Do you have feedback on the show? We would love to hear from you. Send us your feedback and tell us what you love and what you think could be better. And, if you’re enjoying the show, please leave us a review.
Feedback: https://preparelikeapro.com/contact/
Review: https://link.chtbl.com/PLPlivechats/
Show notes: https://preparelikeapro.com/how-to-land-your-first-full-time-contract-in-pro-sport/
Are you ready to enhance your coaching? Uncover the strategies to build a thriving online platform, liberating yourself from the time-for-money constraints while pursuing a career as an AFL S& Coach.
Book a FREE coaches discovery call
https://calendly.com/plp2/15min
