Fans often roll their eyes when they hear an AFL footballer wheel out the old line “we are just taking it one week at a time”. But the reality is that’s how they approach the season; it’s all about preparing for the next game.

The game is so unpredictable it is hard to look beyond the next training session.

To balance this mindset the AFL Players’ Association, in conjunction with clubs and player agents, encourage players to keep one eye on the ball and the other on the next phase of the life.

Through the Next Goal program players are provided with the opportunity to undertake work experience while still in the game to ensure their eventual transition out of the game is as smooth as possible.

Brad Green hung up the boots after 254 games with the Demons at the end of 2012; two months later he picked up a whistle and began his coaching career with Carlton. Something made possible through his involvement in the Next Coach program.

“I was fortunate enough to play 13 great years for the Melbourne Football Club, but when that time comes and you need to think about the transition away from the game, my passion was always about AFL footy,” Green said.

“Coaching had always been a passion of mine and through the AFLPA and AFL Sportsready the Next Coach program was the one for me.”

The mortality of an AFL football career is something Green has been aware of since he arrived from Tasmania in 1999 and staying involved in football after retirement was an obvious decision.

“You’re always thinking about the end – coming to the end as a player. When you turn up as an 18-year-old, as a first-year player, you never know how long you’ll be in the game,” he said.

“The closest thing to playing is coaching, so [I’m going down] that phase in my life.”

Through the program Green was in regular contact with his coaching mentor, Dave Wheadon, who helped Green establish his coaching philosophy and think like a coach.

Green is working as a development coach at Carlton this year and Wheadon said the program helps new coaches develop “a set of principles of which they need to base their actions and decisions.”

“If you look at the great coaches and the great assistant coaches they really do believe in certain principles and methods they fall back on and that’s the basis of the program,” Wheadon said.

While Green will be focused on the development of many of Carlton’s midfielders, he will get plenty of opportunities to gain personal development coaching alongside Mick Malthouse. While now officially a Blue, Green is still a Demon at heart, except when the teams meet in Round 6.

“I’m still barracking for the Dees, but not on that day.”