<![CDATA[Beyond The Game AUS]]>Beyond the Game AUS is a long-form Australian football interview podcast hosted by Aaron Beggs. The show explores the careers, experiences and stories of players, coaches, administrators and influential figures from across Australian football. Each conversation goes beyond results and statistics to uncover the people, decisions, challenges and defining moments behind the game.

]]>https://riverside.comRiverside.fm (https://riverside.com)Mon, 27 Jul 2026 15:15:20 GMTFri, 17 Jul 2026 23:54:35 GMT60Aaron Beggs<p>Beyond the Game AUS is a long-form Australian football interview podcast hosted by Aaron Beggs. The show explores the careers, experiences and stories of players, coaches, administrators and influential figures from across Australian football. Each conversation goes beyond results and statistics to uncover the people, decisions, challenges and defining moments behind the game.</p>episodicAaron Beggsaaronwbeggs@gmail.comyes<![CDATA[Ron Smith: Inside Australia's 2006 World Cup & Football Analysis]]>In Part 2 of my conversation with Dr Ron Smith, we dive into one of the most significant periods in Australian football history—Australia's historic qualification for and participation in the 2006 FIFA World Cup.
Ron shares his experiences working around the Socceroos during this remarkable era, offering his perspective on Guus Hiddink, the team's preparation, and what made that squad so successful.
We also explore Ron's passion for football analysis, coaching education, and performance research. As one of Australia's most respected football educators, he explains how he analyses the game, what separates the best teams from the rest, and why understanding football goes far beyond tactics on a whiteboard.
This episode provides a fascinating insight into one of the sharpest football minds Australia has produced.
In this episode:
⚽ Australia's historic 2006 FIFA World Cup campaign
⚽ Working alongside Guus Hiddink
⚽ Football analysis and coaching philosophy
⚽ How elite football is studied and understood
⚽ Developing better players and coaches
This won't be the last conversation with Ron. We'll be sitting down again in future episodes to explore more of his incredible career, experiences, and insights into Australian football.
If you enjoy long-form football conversations, please like the video, subscribe to the channel, and share it with fellow football fans.
🎙️ Guest: Dr Ron Smith
📺 Beyond The Game AUS is a long-form interview series exploring the people, stories and experiences that have shaped Australian football through the voices of players, coaches, journalists, administrators, and the people behind the game.

]]>077849e3-30a2-48dd-8b2a-52d19e8e9b55Mon, 20 Jul 2026 01:50:55 GMT<p>In Part 2 of my conversation with Dr Ron Smith, we dive into one of the most significant periods in Australian football history—Australia's historic qualification for and participation in the 2006 FIFA World Cup.<br />Ron shares his experiences working around the Socceroos during this remarkable era, offering his perspective on Guus Hiddink, the team's preparation, and what made that squad so successful.<br />We also explore Ron's passion for football analysis, coaching education, and performance research. As one of Australia's most respected football educators, he explains how he analyses the game, what separates the best teams from the rest, and why understanding football goes far beyond tactics on a whiteboard.<br />This episode provides a fascinating insight into one of the sharpest football minds Australia has produced.<br />In this episode:<br />⚽ Australia's historic 2006 FIFA World Cup campaign<br />⚽ Working alongside Guus Hiddink<br />⚽ Football analysis and coaching philosophy<br />⚽ How elite football is studied and understood<br />⚽ Developing better players and coaches<br />This won't be the last conversation with Ron. We'll be sitting down again in future episodes to explore more of his incredible career, experiences, and insights into Australian football.<br />If you enjoy long-form football conversations, please like the video, subscribe to the channel, and share it with fellow football fans.<br />🎙️ Guest: Dr Ron Smith<br />📺 Beyond The Game AUS is a long-form interview series exploring the people, stories and experiences that have shaped Australian football through the voices of players, coaches, journalists, administrators, and the people behind the game.</p>no00:47:57Ron Smith: Inside Australia's 2006 World Cup & Football Analysisfull<![CDATA[Ron Smith: From England to the AIS | The Story Behind an Australian Football Pioneer]]>In Part 1 of my conversation with Ron Smith, we go back to where it all began.

Ron reflects on growing up in England, his early playing days, the move to Australia in 1974, and the journey that led him into coaching. We also explore his influential work with the Australian Institute of Sport (AIS), where he helped develop many of the players who would go on to represent the Socceroos on the world stage.

This is a fascinating conversation about football development, coaching philosophy, and the foundations of one of Australia's most respected football minds.

In this episode we discuss:
⚽ Growing up in England and football culture
⚽ Playing days and the move into coaching
⚽ Migrating to Australia in 1974
⚽ The state of Australian football in the 1970s
⚽ Building coaching standards
⚽ The Australian Institute of Sport (AIS)
⚽ Developing future Socceroos
⚽ What separates great players from the rest

If you enjoy long-form football conversations, please consider liking the video, subscribing to the channel, and sharing it with fellow football fans.

]]>255718a7-8bd2-4576-9619-eb2cbd28a9daSat, 18 Jul 2026 04:57:05 GMT<p><b>In Part 1 of my conversation with Ron Smith, we go back to where it all began.</b></p><p>Ron reflects on growing up in England, his early playing days, the move to Australia in 1974, and the journey that led him into coaching. We also explore his influential work with the Australian Institute of Sport (AIS), where he helped develop many of the players who would go on to represent the Socceroos on the world stage.</p><p>This is a fascinating conversation about football development, coaching philosophy, and the foundations of one of Australia's most respected football minds.</p><p>In this episode we discuss:<br />⚽ Growing up in England and football culture<br />⚽ Playing days and the move into coaching<br />⚽ Migrating to Australia in 1974<br />⚽ The state of Australian football in the 1970s<br />⚽ Building coaching standards<br />⚽ The Australian Institute of Sport (AIS)<br />⚽ Developing future Socceroos<br />⚽ What separates great players from the rest</p><p>If you enjoy long-form football conversations, please consider liking the video, subscribing to the channel, and sharing it with fellow football fans.</p>no00:55:0414Ron Smith: From England to the AIS | The Story Behind an Australian Football Pioneerfull<![CDATA[Gary Cole Part 2: The Game After the NSL]]>In Part 2 of my conversation with Gary Cole, we explore the next chapter of his football journey and his ongoing impact on the game in Australia.

Gary discusses his transition into coaching, his work with the Australian Institute of Sport, leading successful Victorian clubs, helping establish Melbourne Victory as the club's inaugural Director of Football, and his involvement with Football Coaches Australia.

We also dive into coaching philosophy, player development, football pathways, and Gary's thoughts on the future of Australian football. Drawing on decades of experience as a player, coach, administrator and advocate, he offers thoughtful insights into where the game has come from—and where it still needs to go.

If you're passionate about Australian football, coaching, or the future of the sport, this is a conversation you won't want to miss.

]]>9b8c2ef4-d82f-4f4a-8f9f-c557eef34220Sat, 18 Jul 2026 04:50:29 GMT<p>In Part 2 of my conversation with Gary Cole, we explore the next chapter of his football journey and his ongoing impact on the game in Australia.</p><p>Gary discusses his transition into coaching, his work with the Australian Institute of Sport, leading successful Victorian clubs, helping establish Melbourne Victory as the club's inaugural Director of Football, and his involvement with Football Coaches Australia.</p><p>We also dive into coaching philosophy, player development, football pathways, and Gary's thoughts on the future of Australian football. Drawing on decades of experience as a player, coach, administrator and advocate, he offers thoughtful insights into where the game has come from—and where it still needs to go.</p><p>If you're passionate about Australian football, coaching, or the future of the sport, this is a conversation you won't want to miss.</p>no01:08:15Gary Cole Part 2: The Game After the NSLfull<![CDATA[Gary Cole Part 1: The NSL Era]]>Gary Cole is one of the most respected figures in Australian football history, and in Part 1 of this two-part conversation, we look back at an incredible playing career that helped shape the National Soccer League.

Gary reflects on growing up in England, moving to Australia, discovering football in Victoria during the 1970s, and becoming one of the NSL's most prolific goalscorers with Heidelberg United. We also discuss the ethnic-club era, winning back-to-back Golden Boots, representing the Socceroos, and some of the defining moments that made the NSL such an important chapter in Australian football.

Whether you remember the NSL firsthand or want to learn more about one of the game's most influential eras, this is a fascinating conversation with one of the people who lived it.

]]>795a216b-fbfc-4636-8617-ca9e28826e27Sat, 18 Jul 2026 04:34:33 GMT<p>Gary Cole is one of the most respected figures in Australian football history, and in Part 1 of this two-part conversation, we look back at an incredible playing career that helped shape the National Soccer League.</p><p>Gary reflects on growing up in England, moving to Australia, discovering football in Victoria during the 1970s, and becoming one of the NSL's most prolific goalscorers with Heidelberg United. We also discuss the ethnic-club era, winning back-to-back Golden Boots, representing the Socceroos, and some of the defining moments that made the NSL such an important chapter in Australian football.</p><p>Whether you remember the NSL firsthand or want to learn more about one of the game's most influential eras, this is a fascinating conversation with one of the people who lived it.</p>no01:04:2812Gary Cole Part 1: The NSL Erafull<![CDATA[Steve Darby: From Liverpool to Australian Football | Beyond The Game AUS (Part 1)]]>In Part 1 of Beyond The Game AUS, Aaron Beggs sits down with Steve Darby for a long-form conversation about his remarkable journey through world football.

From growing up in Liverpool surrounded by football culture and the influence of legendary figures like Bill Shankly, to coaching in Bahrain during the 1970s and eventually becoming a major figure in Australian and Asian football, Steve shares the stories, lessons and experiences that shaped his career.

This episode dives into:

  • Liverpool football culture in the 1960s
  • Early coaching influences and mentors
  • Moving to Bahrain and coaching overseas
  • Arriving in Australia
  • The growth of football in Australia
  • Coaching philosophy and leadership
  • Stories from decades inside the game

Beyond The Game AUS is a long-form interview series exploring the people, journeys and experiences behind sport.

#SteveDarby #FootballAustralia #LiverpoolFC #AustralianFootball #Soccer #BeyondTheGameAUS #FootballPodcast #SportsPodcast

]]>Buzzsprout-19233283Mon, 25 May 2026 09:00:00 GMT<p>In Part 1 of Beyond The Game AUS, Aaron Beggs sits down with Steve Darby for a long-form conversation about his remarkable journey through world football.</p><p>From growing up in Liverpool surrounded by football culture and the influence of legendary figures like Bill Shankly, to coaching in Bahrain during the 1970s and eventually becoming a major figure in Australian and Asian football, Steve shares the stories, lessons and experiences that shaped his career.</p><p>This episode dives into:</p><ul><li>Liverpool football culture in the 1960s</li><li>Early coaching influences and mentors</li><li>Moving to Bahrain and coaching overseas</li><li>Arriving in Australia</li><li>The growth of football in Australia</li><li>Coaching philosophy and leadership</li><li>Stories from decades inside the game</li></ul><p>Beyond The Game AUS is a long-form interview series exploring the people, journeys and experiences behind sport.</p><p>#SteveDarby #FootballAustralia #LiverpoolFC #AustralianFootball #Soccer #BeyondTheGameAUS #FootballPodcast #SportsPodcast</p>no00:50:2311Steve Darby: From Liverpool to Australian Football | Beyond The Game AUS (Part 1)full