Respected Carlton assistant coach John Barker has received formal recognition as a member of the AFL’s next wave of senior coaches, attending a graduation ceremony for the inaugural group of Level Four coaches on Wednesday evening. 

Barker was part of the seven-man group, who were recognised with the highest accreditation for potential AFL coaches after taking part in the extensive two-year course.

The former Hawthorn star was Carlton’s interim senior coach in 2015, and said the Level Four course reflected the challenges senior coaches face.

“I got the opportunity … when I sat in the chair all these scenarios start appearing and you have to deal with them," Barker said. 

"I'd done a lot of the thinking about those scenarios already, and it showed me that the Level Four is going to prepare coaches who are looking to take senior roles."  
 

AFL football operations manager Simon Lethlean said the program had focused on a one-on-one mentoring program with the aim to develop personal and coaching skills.  

"The seven coaches who took part in the Senior Coach Level Four Program were pleased with the high quality of leaders that we were able to provide them as mentors," Lethlean said.

"Not only did the coaches who took part in the program become better quality leaders, they also learnt what makes them tick in high-pressure situations both inside and outside the coaches box." 

Barker was acknowledged alongside other graduates including Stuart Dew (Sydney), Robert Harvey (Collingwood), Adam Kingsley (St Kilda), Simon Lloyd (Geelong) and Matthew Nicks (Port Adelaide). 

Mentors included former Melbourne coach Neale Daniher and international coaches John Buchanan (cricket), Lisa Alexander (netball) and Ric Charlesworth (hockey). 

The first Level Four group was selected in March 2015 after a lengthy interview process that included input from club CEOs and presidents, former AFL coaches and international coaches.

There have since been two further intakes, in 2016 and earlier this year, with a total of 10 coaches remaining active in the course.

The two-year curriculum is based on a model from the International Council for Coach Education and is tailored to each coach's experience level.

The course's development has been led by the AFL's Michael Poulton, with input from former senior coaches Brendan McCartney and Daniher as well as Essendon coach John Worsfold during its infancy.