Brett Kirk Biography

Collingwood assistant Scott Burns has taken the next step towards becoming a senior coach, headlining the 2017 intake for the AFL's exclusive coaching accreditation course.

Burns was one of six coaches accepted for the third year of the level four program, along with Sydney's Brett Kirk and Port Adelaide's Brendon Lade.

Leigh Tudor (North Melbourne), Dean Solomon (Gold Coast) and Steven King (Western Bulldogs) round out the successful candidates.

Fremantle assistant coach Brett Kirk has departed the club to return to the Sydney Swans.

Swans general manager of football Tom Harley said the club would be in a position to detail Kirk's specific role once it had finalised its coaching panel for 2016.

"After a successful three year stint at Fremantle, we are really pleased to welcome Brett back to the Swans and are confident he will be a really valuable addition to our coaching group,” Harley said.

"Brett is a quality person and his impact as a leader during his playing career at the Swans is well known."

Brett Kirk is the star of a new film called 'Aussie Rules The World', in which Sydney filmmaker Michael Stringer McIntyre tracked the Kirk family's six-month journey to 20 countries.

The film also features Adam Goodes and Bachar Houli, who talk about their path to the AFL, and men of influence such as Andrew Demetriou, Mike Sheahan and Eddie McGuire.

As part of Kirk's role as the AFL's International Ambassador in 2011, the family was sent on a mission to explore and share the footy gospel, and what the retired footballer found was Australian Football was much more than just a game, it was a pathway to unite communities and break down barriers.

Along the journey, Kirk, his wife Hayley, son Indhi, 6, twin daughters Memphys and Tallulah, 4, and Sadie, 2, found themselves on the war-torn streets of Jerusalem, where they met the Israeli-Palestinian Peace Team.

"This film really captures the essence and the spirit of our game and the joy it brings and the barriers it breaks down," Kirk told the AFL Record.

"It connects people and that's what I love about it and that's why I've been intimately involved in it since I was a young boy.

"With the horrible things that are happening in the world at the moment, there is an inspiring story about a team that's made up of half Israelis and half Palestinian players.

"There's a really powerful quote in the film, from an Israeli player, 'if the world was one big footy field, everything would be all right', and it just sits with me now."

Brett Kirk says his new role as an assistant coach at Fremantle may be stepping stone to what could lead to a senior coaching job.

"Ross Lyon sees the game better than nearly anyone I've been involved with, so he's going to be a great mentor (and) I'm going to learn a lot," Kirk said.

"I have a huge amount of respect for the man. We have a lot of similar philosophies about footy, about basics and effort, discipline and resilience … they're the things I based my game on."

Former Sydney Swans co-captain Brett Kirk will join Fremantle's coaching ranks next season after spending 2012 as a commentator for Channel Seven.

"Football has always been a big part of who I am but I did need a mental break when I retired," Kirk said.

"Having two years away from the game allowed me to see footy from a different angle, but it did make me realise my strong desire to coach."

The best player in the opening round derby between GWS and the Swans will be presented with the Brett Kirk Medal.

"I'm very humbled by this," Kirk said about having the medal named after him.

"When you leave a football club you want to leave a legacy, so to have an honour like this is overwhelming."

Retired champions Brett Kirk and Andrew McLeod have accepted new positions with the AFL.

Kirk has been appointed as an AFL ambassador and will travel internationally next year promoting the International Cup.

"The role encapsulates a lot of different things, including going on a journey with my family and telling their story and taking people on an adventure through my eyes," Kirk said.

"I just want to help the AFL showcase to people what our game can do and work towards taking our game to other countries."

McLeod will work as a community engagement and talent co-ordinator in national projects such as the Indigenous and Multicultural Combines.

"This is something I am passionate about and have wanted to do for some time," McLeod said.

"The opportunity to give something back to the game and the community is truly exciting."

Sydney Swans captain Brett Kirk hopes his career has been an inspiration to others trying to achieve lifelong dreams.

"If I sit back and think about my career and the ups and downs and the way I've gone about it and the way I've played with my heart ... I think not only people in footy but other people can get inspired by not giving up," he said.

"There are a lot of people out there who succeeded in all walks of life just because they never gave up on what they wanted to do."

Sydney Swans co-captain Brett Kirk announces his retirement after the 2010 season, bringing an end to the career of one of the AFL's most respected players.

"I want to enjoy the rest of the year. This is not me waving the white flag, this is not me saying it's too hard or that I'm giving up or that my body's no good," he said.

"I'll continue to fight for my teammates and I'll continue to leave everything out on the ground, which I've done previously in my career, because that's what I'm all about."

Swan Brett Kirk offered to shake hands with Carlton's Brock McLean at the start of their NAB Cup game in Blacktown, only for McLean to ignore it.

"He never shakes hands before a game, always after, and Kirky was aware of that and that's why he made a fuss," a Carlton spokesman said.

McLean was seen shaking Kirk's hand after the Swans won convincingly with McLean having a decidedly poor game.

Geelong midfielder Joel Selwood has been recognised as the AFL's most courageous player by his peers after winning the Robert Rose most courageous player award at the AFLPA's awards dinner.

Selwood - fifth in the MVP voting - polled 248 votes ahead of Sydney's Brett Kirk (132) and St Kilda's Lenny Hayes (91).

Collingwood coach Mick Malthouse says he will not chase Barry Hall next year.

"If Paul Roos and Brett Kirk can't the get the best out of a bloke, and he's prepared to move with those blokes - who I have the highest admiration for - then I am not about to take that on," Malthouse said.

Brett Kirk has told Barry Hall his actions in striking Adelaide's Ben Rutten are unacceptable and says the Swans are undecided on the troubled forward's playing future.

"The club as a whole, we care about Barry, we support him," Kirk said today.

"But we're saying it's unacceptable. What has happened is unacceptable and he needs to take personal responsibility for the behaviour.

"It's something that we've got to work through with him.

"All we have at heart is Barry's best interest but also the best interest of the football club, our reputation and the culture that we've been able to instil in the last seven years.

"His actions have shown a lot of difference to what he has spoken about. So that's something he needs to take responsibility for.

"He is ultimately who has to change his pattern of behaviour and he needs to do something about it."

The deliberations over the future of Barry Hall have been the toughest of Swan skipper Brett Kirk's career.

Swans co-captain Brett Kirk would trust Barry Hall with his children - but he has no faith the forward will never erupt again on the footy field.

"I'd trust him with my own kids, but I don't know if he was put in the same situation (as the weekend) I could say he wouldn't do it again," Kirk said.

Sydney has turned to off-season recruit Rhyce Shaw for inside tips on beating Collingwood.

"Rhyce brings a lot of tactical knowledge and experience from playing with Collingwood and he will give us a bit of insight on how they approach the game and how they approach playing the Swans," said Swans co-captain Brett Kirk.

Brett Kirk says a Swans win in their Indigenous Round match against Port Adelaide would be a fitting tribute to Adam Goodes and Michael O'Loughlin.

"They're two guys with so much character about them and I just love playing football with them," he said of O'Loughlin and Goodes.

"I know, speaking to both of them, how much being acknowledged this weekend means to them and I'll be doing everything I can personally to help us get over the line."

Swans coach Paul Roos is disappointed his players couldn't rise to the occasion against Fremantle in Brett Kirk's 200th game.

"One of the main disappointments for the night was that we couldn't win for Kirky," Roos said.

"He was the one that had to put us on his shoulders again and some of the guys would be disappointed in their performance based on what Brett has given the footy club.

"He had to rally the troops again and it was disappointing we didn't win for his milestone.

"A lot of the guys owed it to Brett to fly the flag better than we did, particularly in the first half."

Sydney Swans co-captain Brett Kirk says he has a different perpective on playing AFL as he approaches his 200th game.

"I really just try to walk in people's shoes and try to see it through their eyes. We can be honest and let people know where they sit, but also you come on the other side and sometimes people need to be picked up," Kirk said.

"I have walked a different road to get here so for the young players, they can look to me and know that I've had different experiences."

Sydney's Brett Kirk says Carlton's midfield deserves to be compared to the famed West Coast engine room of Cousins, Judd, Kerr and Cox.

Super Swan Brett Kirk is moving past the disappointment of being charged with contacting an umpire.

Sydney co-captain Brett Kirk is tonight expected to escape with a reprimand and a fine as a stern warning to players to avoid colliding with an umpire.

Following a victory over Hawthorn, Sydney coach Paul Roos feels his support for Brett Kirk is vindicated after receiving an angry letter from a supporter.

The supporter had demanded that Kirk's file be marked permanently.

"I was tempted to write back last week, but I think I'll just let the stats and his performance tell the story," Roos said.

"I'm hoping that supporter saw his performance against the Hawks. I'd rate it as one of his best 15 games he's ever played for this football club.

"You've got to remember Brett Kirk has featured in our best-and-fairest for the past six years and is a premiership player."

Swans coach Paul Roos will ask the AFL to clarify the rules on umpire contact after co-captain Brett Kirk was reported.

Brett Kirk has avoided suspension after facing the tribunal for making reckless conduct with an umpire.

Brett Kirk will face the tribunal for making contact with an umpire, while Daniel Motlop and Adam McPhee have been suspended.

Sydney skipper Brett Kirk likes what he has seen from his team so far in pre-season.

"There's a lot of excitement and enthusiasm around at the moment," Kirk said. "I think there is a really good hunger and feeling at the footy club."