Dennis Armfield

podcast

12 Nov

The gifts of our limiting beliefs - SD94

The moment is surreal on many levels. This week’s guest retired from AFL football soon after I started this podcast. As an avid Carlton supporter I had admired him from afar for, among other things, his whole-hearted approach to every contest in every game. I remember reading what he was saying was next for him after stepping away from football: to help other players with the journey he was now on, transitioning from being a professional athlete to something else.

As a wannabe athlete, I had often wondered what that inflection point was like, and I wanted to have a chat with him about it immediately.

I just didn't know how to do it. How would I get in contact with him? What would I even say?

So now, 8 years later through a sequence of chance events, I find myself sitting at the cafe at Carlton's headquarters, surrounded by memorabilia and memories, chatting to that same footballer and one of my Carlton heroes, Dennis Armfield.

In his own words, Dennis was a fringe player who had to work incredibly hard for every game. Without doubt this is one of the attributes the endeared him to all the fans of the club, and to his teammates as well. But his accolades extended beyond the field, being honoured with the Jim Styles Community Leadership Award in 2015 for the work he did with Odyssey House.

It is with similar whole-heartedness and a desire to lift those around him that Dennis now works to pass on skills in resilience, culture and leadership; things he learnt as a player. He consults to organisations through The Elevation Company, and separately works to support the growth and connection of men through My Elevated Network.

Generosity is the word that came to mind during this conversation with Dennis: generous to the fans in all he gave on the field; generous with his time for this interview with me; and generous through giving so much of himself through his work.

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