THE Carlton Football Club has bolstered its coaching staff with two significant off-field appointments, welcoming Head of Coaching Performance Henry Playfair and Head of Development Luke Power to Ikon Park.

The pair will bring with them a combined 41 years of experience as players and coaches at the elite level and arrive at the Blues with highly-respected reputations across the industry.

Playfair will primarily lead the development of the coaching staff while working closely with Power who will be responsible for the development of the playing group.

Following a playing career spanning nine seasons with Geelong and Sydney, Playfair commenced his extensive coaching pathway as coach of the Swans’ NEAFL side in 2011. He was soon promoted to assistant coach in 2012 where he took charge of the forward line during Sydney’s Premiership year.

After eight years coaching north of the border, Playfair moved to the Saints in 2018 as the Backline and Team Defence coach where he has spent the last two seasons. He is also currently completing the AFL Level 4 coaching program.

Playfair’s role as Head of Coaching Performance will also extend across the Club’s VFL, AFLW and VFLW programs.

“I have a real passion for working with people and seeing them get the best out of themselves. The opportunity to do that at a football club in the position that Carlton is in was simply too good to pass up,” Playfair said.

“There are some quality coaches here, and when you add an exciting playing list to that mix we can really build something special here. Now it is about pushing ourselves to get better on and off the field, which is where my prime responsibility will sit – I can’t wait to get started.”

A triple-premiership player with Brisbane, Luke Power brings not only a wealth of successful playing experience to the Blues but also an outstanding ability to work with elite young talent.

After 302 AFL games, Power moved into an assistant coaching role with Greater Western Sydney in 2013 during the Giants’ second season in the competition.

In 2016 the AFL sounded out Power to take over their elite development program as AFL Academy coach where he spent the last three years overseeing the development of the top-rated teenagers in the country.

The 39-year-old will join Carlton as Head of Development with the responsibility to manage the performance and development of the playing group and ensure an environment is established that will allow every player to reach their full potential.

“Seeing players get the most out of their ability is what gives me the most satisfaction as a coach,” Power said.

“The chance to be able to do that with a playing list as exciting as Carlton’s is a fantastic opportunity. I cannot wait to get to work with the players to make sure they push themselves and each other to go on to have long and successful careers for the Blues.”

Carlton Head of Football Brad Lloyd said the appointments of Playfair and Power would enhance the development of players and coaches across the football program.

“As a club we have made a strong commitment to invest in our people. We want to give our players the best opportunity to perform to an elite level and in order to do that we have really focused on growing and developing all coaches across the Carlton Football Club,” Lloyd said.

“Henry has shown over the last 10 years he has an outstanding ability to develop players as well as people. We believe he will be a terrific support for our coaching staff to ensure they are developing themselves, both professionally and personally, which will only benefit our players and on-field performance across all our programs.

“Luke’s body of work with developing elite talent over an extended period of time has made him a standout within the industry. We believe his skillset is a perfect fit for our AFL playing group, he will work closely with every player on our list to make sure they get the very best out of themselves and for the Carlton Football Club.

“We are delighted to welcome Henry and Luke as well their families to Ikon Park.”