Date Announced!!!
Emotional!!!
Netflix Today Officially Announced the Premiere Date for Its Highly Anticipated Documentary Celebrating the Life and Extraordinary Career of the Late, Legendary Head Coach Jock McHale. He coached the club for 38 years (1913-1950) and led them to eight premierships.
Key points about Jock McHale:
Nickname: “Prince of Coaches”.
Premierships: Won eight VFL/AFL premierships (1917, 1919, 1927-1930, 1935-1936).
Longevity: Coached Collingwood for 38 years, the longest in VFL/AFL history.
Legacy: Inducted into the Australian Football Hall of Fame as a Legend.
Jock McHale Medal: The AFL premiership coach’s medal is named in his honor
The football world is bracing for an emotional and historic moment as Netflix has officially announced the premiere date of its long-awaited documentary celebrating one of the most iconic figures in Australian sporting history — the late, great Jock McHale.
In a powerful tribute to the man widely regarded as the “Prince of Coaches,” the streaming giant’s latest sports documentary will dive deep into McHale’s unparalleled legacy at Collingwood Football Club, where he served as senior coach for an astonishing 38 years from 1913 to 1950. The announcement has already stirred strong emotions among AFL fans, Collingwood supporters, and historians alike, as anticipation builds for what promises to be one of the most compelling sporting documentaries ever produced in Australia.
Jock McHale’s story is legendary. Under his leadership, Collingwood claimed eight VFL premierships — in 1917, 1919, 1927, 1928, 1929, 1930, 1935, and 1936 — setting a standard of excellence that remains unmatched. His coaching tenure remains the longest in VFL/AFL history, a testament to both his football mind and the trust he earned across generations of players.
The Netflix production, described by insiders as both “poignant and powerful,” will feature rare archival footage, interviews with football historians, and reflections from modern-day coaches and players who have drawn inspiration from McHale’s enduring influence. The documentary not only revisits key moments in his coaching career, but also explores his stoic leadership style, his tactical innovation, and the unwavering loyalty he inspired.
Known for his calm authority and razor-sharp football intellect, McHale shaped the DNA of Collingwood Football Club. His teams were feared for their discipline, grit, and unity — hallmarks of McHale’s coaching philosophy. The infamous 1927–30 run of four consecutive premierships — an achievement still unmatched in AFL history — will be a focal point in the documentary, underscoring just how dominant his teams were in the early 20th century.
The film will also examine the broader legacy McHale left behind. Inducted as a Legend into the Australian Football Hall of Fame, his influence goes far beyond his win-loss record. Today, the AFL premiership coach is awarded the Jock McHale Medal — a tribute to a man whose name is synonymous with coaching greatness.
Collingwood president Jeff Browne spoke highly of the project in a brief statement following Netflix’s announcement: “Jock McHale is a cornerstone of our club’s history and of the AFL itself. This documentary is a long-overdue tribute to a man who changed football forever.”
For generations of footy fans who never got to see McHale in action, this documentary will serve as a deeply emotional window into the life of a true legend — a leader who not only brought glory to his club but helped shape the game into what it is today.
