BLUES MIDFIELDER Madison Prespakis is set to return to coaching in 2022 as the Carlton College of Sport and Academy Pathways Assistant Coach.

After the success of the first year of the Football Development Program, Prespakis is excited to return to her coaching role.

“Being a coach in the inaugural year of the Football Development Program this year has been awesome, I can’t wait to get back to it in 2022.

“I’m really excited to keep learning from the other coaches and help the students maximise their potential,” Prespakis said.

As a coach and mentor, Prespakis brings a unique perspective to the Football Development coaching team by drawing on her own experiences as a player.

Prespakis will continue to work with all players in the program but will work closely with the female athletes to develop their skills and gameplay.

“We saw great progress and development in every single player this year,” Prespakis said.

“To be able to have an impact on these girls in a short amount of time has been really rewarding, not just on-field but off-field as well.

“One of the girls from the Football Development Program is now getting to train alongside me for the preseason as a train on with the Carlton AFLW team which is fantastic to see.

As well as helping players in the program develop their skills, Prespakis is also looking forward to her own development as a coach.

“I think 2022 is going to be another learning curve for me. I’m still only young and have a lot to learn about coaching, but it’s something that I love,” she said.

For players who are looking to reach the highest level of football, Prespakis has a few words of advice.

“The main thing is to have fun, but there is a lot of hard work that goes into it.

“If you’ve got the passion to reach the highest level and you put your head down to do the work, that will get you as far as you want to go.”

To find out more about studying at the Carlton College of Sport in 2022, click here.