After spending a week in Buenos Aires, Argentina with New Zealand’s All Blacks, Essendon VFL coach Dan Jordan says the learnings and relationships he made are ones he will take with him for life. 

As the VFL Dons faced their final bye of the season, Jordan thought it would be the perfect opportunity to take a personal development trip, thanks to the club’s Ron Evans Leadership Grant.

“I was quite fortunate to have a contact to be able to get inside that, and I had a fantastic week over there. It was a fantastic experience,” Jordan told The Essential Listen.

“Every year, the club offers the Ron Evans Leadership Grant, which is some money to be used by an employee for personal development.

“Given I’ve got two young children at home, I haven’t really had a lot of time or I suppose money to try and develop myself.

“I applied for the grant this year and was lucky enough to be the recipient. I’d always had plans to spend some time with New Zealand rugby, and was fortunate this game aligned with a bye so I targeted that early and was lucky it all went ahead.”

Jordan was with the All Blacks from Sunday night until their Rugby Championship game against Argentina on Saturday, and was able to see how the team prepared throughout the week.

He spent time with players and coaches socially, and was even called on during one training session to go through some kicking and marking techniques.

“I did a lot of observing, from coaches meetings, to training, to how they prepare strategies, to tactics, to opposition, then how they implement their training and go about everything,” Jordan said.

“I also spent time one-on-one with their coaches and was picking their brains about philosophies. I was really just there to learn and soak in as much as I could, and fortunately they all gave me a plethora of time.

“The learnings I got out of it and relationships I have made are things I will take with me for life.”

Jordan admitted he “didn’t know much about rugby union, didn’t know a lot about the game, and knew nothing about the players”, and went over there as an “open book”.

“I thought at the start of the year I would do a bit of research, but then I (decided not to). I wanted to go over there with no preconceived ideas.

“I wanted to try and take in things that might transfer to my sport, and they were such a welcoming bunch that they were keen to pick my brain as well, about AFL football and what they could potentially take into their sport as well.

“They were keen to have a look at a few techniques of marking. (2016 and 2017 World Rugby Player of the Year) Beauden Barrett was really picking my brain about kicking, and snap kicks and banana kicks and all that.

“That thirst for knowledge and that attempt to get better is clearly a reason why they are the top of their tree and will continue to evolve and be so.”


Jordan takes the All Blacks through some marking techniques. (Photo: All Blacks)

Despite saying he had learnt a number of things, there were two main ones in particular that really stuck with Jordan.

“One thing that staggered me is they are always on the road, whether that be in New Zealand or abroad they’re not like us. They don’t have a facility where they train and prepare, so their base is their culture and what they have created over time.

“The other thing is that I was really impressed by how humble, how giving, and how down to earth all the players and staff were. They welcomed me with open arms and were so inclusive of everything that they did. 

“Those guys are a credit to their country and their organisation, and it’s no coincidence they have had the success they’ve had given their attitude and how they go about things.”


Jordan at the Argentina v All Blacks game in Buenos Aires.

Essendon VFL will look to continue its six-game winning streak when it returns to the action on Saturday against Williamstown at Downer Oval from 2pm.

Brooke Varney is in the final year of her Bachelor of Communications (Journalism) degree at RMIT University. As part of their strategic partnership, Essendon Football Club and RMIT University are committed to providing opportunities for students, staff, players and the wider community.