Nick Poulos: Lessons in Leadership, Load Management & Building Elite Teams | #215

In episode 215, Max chats with GWS High Performance Boss Nick Poulos! Nick unpacks managing sore bodies, timing a run into finals, and building genuine trust and respect between players and the high-performance team. Nick’s story is one of the most incredible in Australian sport - from his early days as a rugby player and 400m runner, to coaching professional rugby internationally in Tonga and Qatar, before making the transition into the AFL’s high-performance space. From working in sales to taking the leap and going all-in on his coaching career, Nick shares incredible insights from his time at the Adelaide Crows - including working with Patrick Dangerfield, Rory Sloane and Tex Walker from day one, the tragic passing of coach Phil Walsh in 2015, and how the club rebuilt itself in the aftermath. Nick also takes us inside his journey at GWS - transforming the Giants from a small-market club to a powerhouse in 2019, the decision to play captain Phil Davis in the Grand Final despite a calf injury, and how to weigh up risk versus reward when it matters most. Plus, Nick reflects on stepping down from his role at the end of this year, the process of appointing his successor, and a season review of how the Giants managed their injury load throughout 2024. All this and much more in episode 215 of Sporting Max www.instagram.com/sportingmax.podcast/