Football Coaches Australia presents ‘The Football Coaching Life Podcast’ S2 Ep 7 with Gary Cole interviewing Dr Craig Duncan

Matthew Badrov17/08/2021 5:54 pm12/09/2021

Dr Craig Duncan is one of Australia’s top ‘Human Performance Scientists’. In the good old days Craig was a Strength and Conditioning Coach, it’s amazing how things change!

Craig played for NSW as a junior before realising his best bet in the world of athletic performance was via a university degree. He speaks about how his role today is to take a holistic approach with footballers to ensure that they are as best prepared so as to enable the coaches to do their magic with them on the pitch.

He has worked with various sucessful coaches, including Vitezslav Lavicka at Sydney FC where he won a championship; and with Tony Popovic at the Western Sydney Wanderers where he won an Asian Champions League; as well as alongside Ange Postecoglou with the Socceroos where he won the Asian Cup and qualified for a World Cup. Craig has also worked Carlos Queiroz with Iran at the Asia Cup. Craig explains how he learned from all of these very experienced coaches.

We spend time discussing the importance of finding a ‘mentor’ for all coaches. And how both mental health and being present can only improve coaching and player performance.

Craig has had to deal with a ‘spontaneous coronary artery dissection’ and a few heart attacks which helped him focus on both his health and his family and also helped him to understand the importance to ‘Be wherever you are’ as well as the importance of resilience.

Dr Craig is also leaving a legacy by sharing his wisdom as both an author and content creator. His one piece of wisdom for coaches is to find a good mentor and not chase the dollars early but rather learn the culture of football.

Please join me in sharing Dr Craig Duncan’s Football Coaching Life.

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Inside GIS’ New Executive Edge Program Driving Sport’s Future Leaders

Mihaila Kilibarda17/04/2026 5:55 am16/04/2026

Image Credit: Global Institute of Sport

A new executive education program designed to shape the next generation of sports industry leaders is set to launch in June 2026, offering participants a rare blend of academic insight and real-world application at the highest level of global sport.

The Executive Edge in Sport, delivered by Global Institute of Sport (GIS) in partnership with Rotman School of Management Executive Programs, will provide current and aspiring leaders with the tools needed to navigate an increasingly complex and fast-evolving sports landscape.

The seven-week program, Sports Leadership Essentials, is delivered primarily online, offering a flexible and immersive learning experience for professionals worldwide. It is tailored for individuals seeking to strengthen their leadership capabilities within sport, as well as those aiming to transition into senior roles. This includes athletes navigating their post-playing careers.

Led by Sharona Friedman, President and CEO of GIS, and Walid Hejazi, Professor of Economic Analysis and Policy at Rotman, the course combines academic rigour with industry relevance. Participants will engage with key topics shaping modern sport, including leadership and strategy, governance and ethics, finance and revenue models, marketing and fan engagement, event operations, and the growing influence of AI and emerging technologies.

The program also features exclusive masterclasses with senior figures from across the global sports industry, alongside sessions led by leading academics and practitioners from the Rotman School.

For those seeking a more hands-on experience, participants can opt into the Sports Leadership Lab. This is a four-day, in-person summit held at BMO Field in Toronto. Delivered in collaboration with Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment, the lab provides behind-the-scenes access to elite sport operations, bridging theory with practice in a live stadium environment.

As the global sports industry continues to expand and evolve, The Executive Edge in Sport positions itself as a critical pathway for leaders looking to stay ahead. It provides students with the knowledge, network, and perspective required to lead with impact.

Victory unites with Roasting Warehouse in culture-led partnership

Patrick Irving16/04/2026 8:55 am16/04/2026

Image credit: Melbourne Victory

The Melbourne-based anf family-owned business will join the Victory family, uniting two institutions which represent the city’s culture and identity.

A partnership with local roots

As the newest partner of Melbourne Victory, Roasting Warehouse joins forces with a vital part of the city’s sporting landscape.

The club’s Managing Director, Caroline Carnegie, outlined why the partnership bears so much value to both parties.

“We are excited to collaborate with Roasting Warehouse, a community-oriented destination for high-quality coffee, proud of its foundations in Melbourne,” said Carnegie via official media release.

“Football and coffee sit at the epicentre of Melbourne’s culture. The two go hand-in-hand, consistently at the centre of the conversation that stirs Melburnians, which is no different to the conversation sport and Melbourne Victory stir in the State.”

Indeed, this is a partnership which combines the identity, passions and culture of an entire city, therefore giving it the foundations required for long-term, mutual success.

Representing the best of Melbourne

Both Victory and Roasting Warehouse are hugely successful in their respective industries. They are institutions with community-oriented philosphies, who pride themselves on craft and quality.

“We’re incredibly proud to partner with Melbourne Victory, a club that represents the heart, passion, and ambition of Melbourne,” revealed Roasting Warehouse Head of Brand, Alexander Paraskevopoulos.

“As a Melbourne-founded, family-run business, supporting a team that means so much to the local community feels very natural for us.”

Furthermore, through their high-quality blends, Roasting Warehouse will look to prepare Victory’s players and staff for high performances on the pitch as the seasons nears completion.

But this is about far more than just fueling athletes.

This is a partnership which embodies and unites two of Melbourne’s greatest strengths and cultural markers – a connection forged from the city’s very own DNA.

For more information about Roasting Warehouse, click here.