My dad always barracked for the Swans.

My mum used to live not far from the old Swans ground at the Lake Oval in South Melbourne before she got married.

I can still remember going to the ground back in 1980, before it closed, to see the Swans play.

My three daughters are passionate Swans fans, so it looks like the family tradition will continue for years to come.

How old were you when you started playing footy?

I started off in the under 9s at Kilsyth and played school footy before my parents moved to Geelong and I played with South Barwon.

My playing career came to an end in the early 1990s as I had been concussed three times in 18 months.

I was advised by doctors not to play any more so I followed their advice, but I decided to go down the coaching path.

Did you have any thoughts of wearing a helmet when you played?

No, I really never considered wearing a helmet.

The three incidents were on the back of another concussion I received when I was playing school footy in grade 6.

There was a head clash between me and another kid. It was just a simple collision but I suffered a concussion.

I had a couple of other minor injuries like a broken finger and a shoulder injury during my career, but the concussion issue was a concern.

I started coaching school teams at St Joseph’s College in Geelong and I found that I really enjoyed that involvement.

I was teaching physical education at St Joseph’s and John Rankin was also teaching there and he was involved with the under 16 program at the Geelong Falcons.

I was the runner there for a couple of years before Mick Turner asked if I would be interested in coaching the under 15 schoolboys side in 1999.

It was a good fit for me, so I jumped at the chance.

Was there any future stars in that under 15 schoolboys side?

Yes. Gary Ablett Junior was in that side.

He was only a small fella but he was very skillful. I’ll never forget we came up to play a practice game at Glenormistion.

He did one thing was caught my attention. It was freakish.

We ended up having a debate if he should make the squad.

We decided in the end he should make the squad, but he never dominated.

He worked very hard on his footy skills and just kept on improving and his record now is outstanding.

I coached the schoolboy side for six seasons.

We defeated Goulburn Valley in 2003 to win the championships.

Michael, in your six years coaching the schoolboys side did any other top players come through the ranks?

There was numerous players that went on to play in the AFL, VFL and local leagues.

Two players that are well known who came through the schoolboys and the Geelong Falcons were Shaun Higgins and Travis Boak.

I decided to have a break from footy from 2005 to 2008 because of family and work commitments.

Would Ablett Junior be the best player that you saw come through the ranks in your time of coaching and being involved with junior and schoolboy footy in Geelong?

No, I would to rate Jimmy Bartel in front.

I coached him in years 7 and 8 in the school lightning premierships.

He was just a ball magnet from a young age.

He had incredible skills and had the ability of being where the football was going to go.

It never surprised me what Bartel went on to achieve at the highest level.

He was just a level-headed person and is still a great person today.

It’s been well documented his parents broke up when he was young and his mum did a great job teaching him great values.

Nick Maxwell was another who came through the system.

Nick was a late developer and played one year with the Geelong Falcons under 18 side.

Nick lives in Melbourne but still has strong connections to St Joseph’s College in Geelong.

He and a few of his mates set up a foundation for the late Michael Carmody.

Michael was killed after a tree accident a few years ago.

The group hold various functions in a year devoted to Michael and they donate the funds to less fortunate school children.

Michael, you’ve filled key roles at St Virgils College in Hobart and Christian Brothers College St Kilda, plus head of campus at St Joseph’s in Geelong. Now you’re the deputy principal at Emmanuel College Warrnambool. With your solid background in footy, have any local clubs asked you to get involved?

In a roundabout way, there’s been a bit of interest but I will not be committing to any local sides.

I just want to go to local games of footy and watch kids from the school play or I may head back down to Geelong to see some games.

I’ve been a talent scout on a part-time basis for Port Adelaide since 2011.

I just go and watch TAC, VFL or school footy games and report back to the recruiting manager of Port Adelaide, Anthony Parkin, about any player that may have slipped under the radar.

I enjoy the role as I might be able to find a late developer who may make it in the big time.

My wife Claire has taken over as the assistant principal at Mercy College in Camperdown and we’re loving being part of both communities.