Coach In Focus: Glen “Jako” Jakovich
Meet Year 7 Coach Glen Jakovich
While Glen doesn’t really need an introduction, his playing career details he listed are pretty light on so here is a quick bio.
Glen started playing senior football with South Fremantle at age 16 as a centre half forward. He debuted for the West Coast Eagles in 1991 where he assumed the centre half back position as number 27 where he played out his career. He was notable for his duels with rival centre half forwards, in particular with North Melbourne’s Wayne Carey and Geelong’s Barry Stoneham, both considered the best in the game and these contests were highly anticipated. Glen Jakovich retired in 2004 after a stirling career and an Eagles record of 276 games (only surpassed in 2014 by Dean Cox). He is a 2 times Premiership player (1992, 1994), a 2 times All-Australian, selected in the 1994 and 1995 team, a 4 times West Coast Club Champion (1993, 1994, 1995, 2000). He won the Ross Glendinning Medal in 2001 and was inducted into the Australian Football Hall of Fame in 2008. He was also recently named as one of the best 3 players that Mick Malthouse has ever coached over his 718 game coaching career over 4 clubs.
Glen is also an active member of the AMPJFC, serving on the committee for over 5 years as well as coaching.
How long have you been coaching footy for at AMPJFC and other clubs?
5 years at AMPJFC
Did you play footy yourself as a youngster. If so tell us about your football career.
Yes played with South Coogee JFC U8s-U14s
Who was your best coach when you played? Why?
My Under 10s Coach Darryl Foster. He always focussed on teaching us the basics of kicking, hand balling and marking with high energy at training.
Don’t worry we won’t tell Mick you didn’t pick him as your No 1.
What children and teams do you have at AMPJFC? Bryce Jakovich Year 7s
What age groups have you coached? 3s, 4s, 5s, 6s & 7s
What got you into coaching?
I love football and Junior Development. It’s a real passion of mine seeing young people improve their own skills and make the team better.
What do you enjoy about coaching?
Teaching the fundamentals and working together as a team. Also all the different personalities of each individual player.
What are some stand out moments as a coach?
Watching the team come together implementing training drills and styles into the weekend’s game and doing it successfully. Also seeing the satisfaction on my team’s faces after the game and singing the club song.
What is your focus for the team this year?
Given it’s our first year of scoring and playing for premiership points, I’m focussing on team first mentality as well as game styles that’s applicable to this age group.
What is your catch phrase that you always say to your players eg words of wisdom, inspirational messages etc
1.See Ball, Get Ball
2. Do selfless acts on the field to make your team mate better!
What AFL Team do you barrack for? West Coast Eagles
What Jody says: “Glen is a great coach, not just because of his knowledge of footy but because he is teaching the boys life skills as well as footy skills. He is respected by the kids and very passionate, especially when they are playing well and listening. He is very good at letting the boys know they have done something well during the game which makes the boys try even harder.“
What Petra says: “Glen is a great coach who is dedicated to teaching the boys the football skills they need to improve each and every week.
Glen communicates really well with the boys and makes sure that they play
well, play fair, support each other, and most importantly, that they have
fun. The boys are really lucky to have a coach that gives them encouragement, and a coach that talks to them all individually about how to become better players.”