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#29 Connection Beats Structure: Building Teams That Perform When It Matters Most, With Tom Cashin

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4TG
#29 Connection Beats Structure: Building Teams That Perform When It Matters Most, With Tom Cashin
Feb 11, 2026 Season 2 Episode 29
Kylie Lynch

Have you ever been in a team where the structure looks perfect on paper… but the connection is missing?

This week I’m joined by Tom Cashin – Collingwood VFLW Head Coach and Head of Academy (AFLW) – for a raw, honest chat on what actually creates high-performing teams.

We unpack Tom’s people-first coaching philosophy, why he wants athletes setting goals they’re not guaranteed to reach, and how to change your relationship with failure so it becomes growth (not defeat).

Tom also breaks down his approach to movement mechanics and role-specific training – and why “quality reps over quantity reps” is the edge most athletes are missing.

In this episode, we cover:

  • Why teams can look “perfect” on paper but still lack real connection
  • The coaching shift Tom made at Collingwood – from structure-first to connectedness-first
  • Psychological safety – how to create an environment where athletes play with freedom
  • Why athletes should set goals they might not reach (and why that’s the point)
  • Reframing failure – separating performance from identity
  • The difference Tom noticed coaching boys vs coaching women
  • Training with intent – quality reps over quantity reps
  • Role-specific development: training for what your position actually demands
  • Why aligning AFL and AFLW game days could accelerate women’s sport
  • What Tom would tell his younger self (and what he hopes for his daughter)

Resources + links

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