"...there are those rare mentors that exert only a subtle force of us at first contact, but whose impact defies the laws of physics and time. Instead of fading, it grows. And when they are gone, when there's no contact at all, the effect multiplies. It's as if their presence was the last tackler to navigate before the message finally hit paydirt in our minds and our hearts."
Think of the greatest coach or teacher you've had: what was the most important lesson they passed on?
If you're like most people, it's something like "it doesn't take talent to hustle", or "persistence pays off", or just "be yourself." That's because the teachers who really touch us, and change our lives, are the ones who teach us more than just the curriculum, or the skills, or the tricks. They teach us about life, and about character.
Dean Bailey, or 'Bails' as everyone knew him, was widely regarded as one of those coaches. Not only was he a former head coach of Melbourne, he'd been a player at one of the powerhouse teams of the 80's, and a coach at two separate premiership teams in modern times.
Paddy Steinfort worked side by side with Bails, a relationship first forged during their time living together as they transitioned to a new team. But when Bails was diagnosed with cancer their relationship goes deeper than ever before, as they work to compile one final gameplan for learning and leadership, from a coach who can teach us a lot about life.
Breakfast with Bails is the unforgettable true story of a man committed to making others great, even in his final days. In these pages, you are offered the rare opportunity to step inside Bails' hospital room, take a seat beside his bed and listen deeply as he shares the life lessons that sport can give to us all.
