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Michael Snelling is a sports physiotherapist with a 30 year diverse journey in the world of high performance sport. Michael has worked with the likes of Adelaide Crows (AFL), Surrey County Cricket Club, Fulham FC (EPL), England Rugby, Geelong Cats (AFL) and Milwaukee Bucks (NBA) to just name a few. Now Michael owns and operates a private practice and shares the knowledge and expertise he has gained from being able to work alongside some incredible clinicians and athletes, as well as having the privilege of being part of the fabric of various world renowned high performance environments. Enjoy the journey of someone who grew up wanting to be a lawyer, play the drums in a band and play AFL footy and admittedly did not achieve any of this, to then go on to establish one of the most impressive and desirable resumes in high performance sport. 


Highlights from the episode…

• Michael secured his first role as a “Hare” with the Adelaide Crows, AFL. 
• Soon after completing his Physio degree, Michael moved to Chicago to take an opportunity to work in private practice. 
• After a stint in the US, that didn’t exactly go to plan, Michael set off to the UK to further his pursuit into sport.
• Having traveled the world and still in the pursuit of his dream role in sport. He returns to Australia to enroll in a masters in sports physio.
• Now armed with a masters degree and some sports experience, Michael applied for a role at the AIS to only be told he has no international sports experience and within 6 weeks was setting off to the UK.
• Michael share how he secured a role with Surrey County Cricket Club and then went on to secure a dream role in the English Premier League with Fulham FC.
• After Fulham, he moved to England Rugby even though he had no previous experience or extensive knowledge of the game. 
• After 6 years with England Rugby, Michael reached out to several AFL clubs and he shares how he eventually secured a role with Geelong, AFL.
• Michael shares the importance of “mastering your craft” as opposed to increasing your profile.
• After 5 years and winning 2 AFL premierships, Michael went on to open a private practice. “Now that was Ballsy!” Michael explains why.
• Michael shares how 20 years after first leaving the US, he was now offered the rare opportunity to return to the US with the Milwaukee Bucks, NBA.
• However the decision was not straight forward and Michael shares what factors he had to seriously consider before saying yes!
• Michael shares his experience at the Bucks and we discuss how Australian and overseas approach to sports science/medicine differ. 
• Michael finally shares what he learnt from all the different teams he’s worked with and what have made these teams successful. 

People mentioned: 

• Craig Purdam - https://www.linkedin.com/in/craig-purdam-6964293a/
• Suki Hobson - https://www.linkedin.com/in/suki-hobson-588ba276/
• Troy Flanagan - https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-troy-flanagan-137a1b3/ 

Michael Snelling’s contact details:

• LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-snelling-85036b64/?originalSubdomain=au
• Geelong’s Third Space - https://www.geelongsthirdspace.com.au/

Host: Luis Resa

Contact me on:

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/luis-resa-a975196b/
• Email: [email protected]

Thanks for listening and please leave a review. If you would like more information on anything mentioned in this episode simply send me an email.