Alex McDonald
Managing Director
Alex is a qualified accountant and brings over 25 years of AFL experience as the Managing Director of Hemisphere AFL. He has the distinction of being the number one AFL draft pick in 1988. After seven seasons at the Hawks, Alex finished his career at Collingwood. Crucially Alex knows what it's like to be a player at the elite level. He's even a member of a select group of families who have had three brothers play over 100 AFL games. His brothers, Anthony and James, both played for Melbourne.
Hemisphere's philosophy of maximising on field and off field opportunities is built out of our desire to build lasting relationships with every talent. Combining 18 years of industry experience with his football career, Alex is perfectly equipped to guide talent through the rigours of life in the AFL.
David Trotter
Head of Talent Management
Being a former top 10 draft pick and having spent 4 years in the AFL system at North Melbourne, Dave has lived the life of a young, elite AFL player.
Managing some of the game’s best young players, Dave ensures potential draftees are informed and prepared ahead of the draft.
With a degree in exercise and sports science, and factoring in his own personal experiences, Dave is the perfect fit to help players move into the increasingly demanding AFL environment.
Annabel Burge
Talent Manager
Following the completion of her Bachelor of Business and Arts - Sports Management at Victoria University, Annabel launched into her dream career in sports management in 2013. A diehard Hawks fans, her career path was inspired by her passion for building strong working relationships and her enthusiasm and love for sport.
Dan Meddings
Talent Manager
Nick Allan
Talent Coordinator
Nick is a young West Australian working in the Hemisphere WA office. He completed a Bachelor of Commerce – Accounting & Finance at Notre Dame and after graduation he soon began work in an accounting role. He joined the Hemisphere team in 2020 and recently played at Claremont in the WAFL. Coming from a family with a rich football history, Nick’s father Ben played 211 games across the AFL and WAFL, including an AFL Premiership, 2 All-Australian Medals and was the original captain of the Fremantle Dockers. Using his knowledge and experience of the WAFL system, Nick works with our younger players in WA and helps them best prepare for the AFL National Draft.
Courtney Gledhill
Office Manager
Anthony Panozzo
Talent Manager
Anthony’s football career began playing for Richmond’s U19s in the late 80s. He then went on to play senior football at age 18 in the VFL and SANFL – finally finishing off by playing in a Premiership winning side for Wonthaggi in the Gippsland Football League. A very successful businessman, he has a passion for mentoring and coaching young talent which led him to becoming an Accredited AFL Player Agent. Keeping an eye on the young talent coming through the elite pathways, Anthony’s strong values around relationship building and industry knowledge helps to ensure Hemisphere’s young clients are prepared for their AFL journey.
Kristian Nikoloski
Endorsements
Kristian completed his Media and Communications degree in Melbourne and Cincinnati before entering the media industry shortly after graduating. Within a year he made the move over to Los Angeles to pursue a career in talent management. Whilst over there he quickly landed a role as an assistant to an endorsement agent and worked with some of America’s A-list talent. Upon his return to Australia he began work with Hemisphere as the talent services and endorsements coordinator.
