Building Killer Teams - Lessons from Football & Business

If there’s one thing I’ve learnt across my career, from the footy field to running businesses in the Mallee and the city, it’s this: high performance isn’t about individual brilliance.

Premierships aren’t won by a single star.

They’re won by teams that know how the work gets done, who take responsibility for each other, and who play for something bigger than themselves.

In 2019, when I first walked through the doors at the Western Bulldogs, I met an AFLW legend and AFL Hall of Famer for the very first time, Debbie Lee, who said the Bulldogs are proud of their inclusivity and diversity, and that they strive to be the destination club for women and girls to feel safe and welcome playing football in Melbourne.

That stuck with me.

Because what I saw on the field that night is the same lesson I see in business every day.

The best teams are built on a clear mission, a sense of belonging, and a culture people want to be part of.

As an Advanced Sports Osteopath, a development coach, and the director of Central Mallee Health, Central Mallee Fitness, Outreach Osteo and Osteo Sports Network, I’ve seen the power of momentum and energy. In sport, energy can change a game. In business, it can shift the culture.

Momentum is what keeps people moving forward when the work gets tough.

High-performing environments are about clarity, accountability and trust.

In footy, the game plan is clear.

In business, it should be the same.

Keep the way the work gets done simple, transparent and repeatable.

When people love the culture they’re in, when they know they’re 100 percent responsible, the results take care of themselves.

For me, building killer teams isn’t about perfection.

It’s about connection, clear vision and shared purpose. It’s about creating the energy people want to be part of, and building the momentum that carries a team to places individuals could never reach on their own.

This blog is just the start. I’ll be sharing more of what sport has taught me about leadership, culture and creating high performance environments that lift everyone.