John Blakey Biography

John Blakey and Gavin Brown will depart North Melbourne, leaving their role as assistant coaches of the club.

"After conversations with 'Blakes' and 'Browny', we have agreed to mutually part ways," North Melbourne's general manager of football Todd Viney said in a statement.

"These decisions are never taken lightly, but the time is right for all parties to move forward in new directions.

"Blakes and Browny have been outstanding contributors to our club and they leave as highly respected individuals. We wish them well as they look to take on new opportunities within the industry."

Nick Blakey says he has a great relationship with his father, John Blakey, who also works as a backline coach for the Swans.

"Dad and I have a really good relationship at home and a really good working relationship as well, so if he tells me to do something, I'll do it, just like I do with the other coaches," he said.

"We've never had any conflict about my football and I think Mum has been pretty big on that, when we're at home we're a family and don't talk much about football. I know that he's there though so, if I need to, I can go straight to Dad.

"People will probably think it's a bit funny because he's my dad but at the end of the day, he's just another coach at the club."

John said at times he found it tough separating himself from his roles last year.

"It was difficult. I won't lie, I get pretty excited when he does something well, but I tried not to show it too much because I know the cameras are onto me," he said.

"I didn't expect to see him play as many games as he did, so I thought it was a super effort.

"I'm a really proud father and hopefully he can continue on and have a better year this year."

Nick Blakey says he wants to emulate his father, John Blakey, in forging a career in the AFL.

"I definitely wouldn't be the player I am now if it wasn't for my old man," Nick said.

"If I can be half the player he is, I will be extremely happy ... that's still more than 150 games."

Father-son and academy prospect Nick Blakey, a Sydney resident and member of the Swans’ academy, nominates the Swans as his preferred destination for 2019.

Blakey, considered a near-certain first-round draft prospect, had four options to choose from come this year’s national draft, including entering the open draft.

As the son of 359-game AFL great John Blakey, the classy left-footer was also eligible to be taken as a father-son selection by both North Melbourne and the Brisbane Lions.

Father-son prospect Nick Blakey says he will leave it to later in the year before making a decision on his preferred club.

Blakey has trained with the Roos' father-son program, last year spent time at the Lions with their Academy, and has been a part of the Swans' Academy for nearly a decade since his father John Blakey joined the club's coaching panel.

"At the moment, I still have to play a lot of good football before I think about it," he said.

"Dad has a rich history at both North and Brisbane, so I'm not just focused on Sydney. I love Sydney and Sydney's home at the moment, but obviously dad won two premierships at North and started his career with the Lions which was so good for him.

"I'll keep my options open and I'm not set on what I'm going to do."