Nathan Burke knows a thing or two about playing a great game, both on the AFL field and from the sidelines as a coach.  

But it is not just his wins that define him; some of Nathan’s most valuable lessons have come from facing challenges and the support of his those around him.  

He recalls a difficult season coaching at the Western Bulldogs AFLW, when everything seemed to go wrong. “Putting aside win/loss records and focusing on my purpose for coaching was the only way to get through. If I could turn up each day and make someone else’s life better in some way, then the win/loss became far less important. Of course, we still tried as hard as we could to win. It just meant that any failure we had along the way was kept in perspective,” he says. 

The support from teammates and coaches had a profound impact on Nathan’s journey, and he believes that a single mentor, teacher or coach can make a life-changing difference to a young person. 

He credits his second coach, Ken Sheldon, with a pivotal turning point in his career. Ken took the time to pull Nathan aside to express a genuine belief in his potential and encourage him to step up to the next level. “The confidence he showed in me and the opportunity he gave me changed the trajectory of my whole career,” Nathan reflects. 

Now, as Haileybury’s new Head of Coaching, Nathan is ready to help the school’s 350 sports coaches support students and help them kick even more goals, both on and off the field.  

Driven by a genuine desire to make a positive impact on those around him, Nathan explains, “If you’re not making somebody else’s life better, then you are wasting your own. Coaching, to me, is a way to live this motto. Sport just happens to be the thing that I have spent my life doing, and as such, it’s what enables me to coach confidently and know that I am making a difference.” 

At Haileybury, students have the opportunity to choose from more than 40 different sports, making it the largest school sports program in Australia. This incredible variety means every student can discover a sport they enjoy, and develop new skills and interests, while feeling part of a supportive team. Nathan is committed to ensuring that each student’s sporting experience is rewarding, with a strong focus on building positive team cultures. 

It is the positive team culture that he believes determines success. “The best teams design the culture they need I n order to be successful, they don’t let it evolve by default. Talent alone is never enough. At times I’ve seen very talented teams, but if culture and standards didn’t match that talent they underachieved.” 

For students, this means being part of an environment where they are encouraged to be resilient and everyone feels valued, supported and motivated to do their best. 

Nathan is also passionate about helping coaches continue to grow and learn. “I had seven coaches at St Kilda, and I can honestly say I learnt something from every one of them. Sometimes you learn what to do and sometimes you learn what not to do. At the end of the day every experience, good or bad, is a chance to grow as a person,” he explains. 

Nathan also notes that coaches must adapt over time and undertaking ongoing professional learning can help ensure their coaching remains effective and relevant. 

He says playing high performance sport and good wellbeing are closely linked. “I see coaching for high performance and wellbeing as going hand in hand. You can’t coach someone to be a high performer simply by teaching them skills. The high-performance stage naturally comes with additional pressures and stresses, they can’t be avoided,” he explains. 

 “The only way to truly reach your potential is by combining physical training with mental training. If a student just wants to play for fun, that’s fine, but using sport to support mental as well as physical health will always be part of our coaching program.” 

Nathan encourages students interested in sport to find something they genuinely love, even if it means trying out different things. “When you love the sport you’re playing, it’s much easier to handle the ups and downs,” he says. 

For those considering coaching, his advice is clear: “You don’t have to be the best player to be a great coach. Focus on the skill of coaching, that’s what truly counts.”