Does ‘jacked’ new GWS Giants boss Adam Kingsley have the best body of any footy coach in Australia?

Aussie Olympian James Magnussen branded new GWS boss Adam Kingsley ‘the muscliest coach’ in any of the country’s football leagues – but can the ‘jacked’ former premiership winner really lay claim to the title?

Kingsley, who was officially unveiled as Giants coach on Monday, set tongues wagging when photos emerged of his arms bursting through the training shirt.

Radio personality and former Swans and Crows star Ryan Fitzgerald took to social media to declare how impressed he was with Kingsley’s physique. 

‘Is it fair that to say Adam Kingsley has been training for the GWS role all his life. What a beast! This shot could be more iconic than yours Bucks [Nathan Buckley],’ he wrote on Twitter.

Magnussen, who’s no stranger to the weights room, took his praise a step further. 

‘I saw a photo of him yesterday, the guy [Kingsley] is jacked,’ Magnussen laughed on SEN.

‘He’s got to be the muscliest coach in any form of football here in Australia. He’s muscled up, shredded, veins popping, the whole kit and caboodle.’

Is he right, though?

Many on social media thought Kingsley had dethroned Kangaroos legend and current runner for the club, Brent Harvey, for the most jacked assistant coach in the AFL.

But a look at the head coaches and assistants at both AFL and NRL level proves are a bevy of former players who like to keep themselves in tip-top shape. 

Daily Mail Australia has identified the top candidates for the inaugural ‘Australia’s Muscliest Footy Coach’ awards. 

Adam Kingsley (AFL)

If Magnussen was a judge in the contest, Kingsley would be a shoo-in. The current Richmond Tigers assistant coach is set to take over the GWS Giants – and he’ll find himself a favourite of the Sydney paparazzi if he continues to ensure his shirts are one size too small.

Kingsley played 170 games for Port Adelaide, including the 2004 premiership, and won a best and fairest as a silky defender with a gorgeous mop of hair. 

He’s the whole package too: Kingsley won the TV show Australia’s Brainiest Footballer in 2006. 

Chad Cornes (AFL)

Kingsley’s former Power teammate Chad Cornes might have him covered in the muscle department. 

After a storied 255-game career as a brutal centre halfback, which included a premiership and two All Australian gongs, Cornes moved straight into development coaching. 

After appearing as Port’s runner for many years, and outrunning many of the current players he was delivering messages to, he was then promoted to Port’s chief defensive assistant – but he is still as jacked as ever.

John Morris (NRL)

John Morris was a super-fit, no-frills utility during his 300-game NRL career, and he appears to have cut back on the extra padding a rugby league player requires, and now has hardly any fat around his bulging muscles.

The former Sharks head coach is now an assistant coach with South Sydney. 

Matt Ballin (NRL)

Matt Ballin may have more credentials than any other player on this list, after being voted the ‘Sexiest Man in League’ in 2008 while he was playing for Manly.

He continued to work as a personal trainer at the start of his NRL career, playing 220 games at hooker, representing Queensland on one and featuring shirtless on a number of rugby league calendars.

Ballin is now a development coach with the Brisbane Broncos and often posts pictures of his fitness endeavours on social media.  

Brent Harvey (AFL)

The man who supposedly held the title of ‘Footy’s Muscliest Coach’ before Kingsley, Brent Harvey’s huge arms have set tongues wagging across the AFL world as he acts as the Kangaroos runner.

The AFL game record holder played at a diminutive 175cm and 75kg through his remarkable 432-game career – but since retiring in 2016, he appears to have spent most of his spare time in the gym working on bicep curls. 

Harvey either orders small shirts like Kingsley, or he gets the Kangaroos property stewards – where he is a development coach – to sew his sleeves in tighter. 

Amon Buchanan (AFL)

Cult Swans premiership hero Amon Buchanan may not be particularly tall, but he always ensured his strength made up for his lack of size compared to the game’s biggest stars. 

Buchanan now coaches the midfield group at GWS, and will no doubt be hoping to lock horns with Kingsley in the gym and show him who the boss of the weights room really is. 

Slade Griffin (NRL) 

Griffin was besieged by injuries, playing just 41 matches across a five-year career, but won a premiership with the Storm in 2017.

He now coaches at the New Zealand Warriors, and looks like he is smashing out plenty of heavy bench presses like he did in his playing days.  

Simon Goodwin (AFL)

A bicep curl-off between the two most ripped head coaches in Australia would be an intriguing competition.

Simon Goodwin is one of the Crows’ greatest ever players, winning two flags and an incredible five All Australian jumpers as one of the most powerful midfielders of his generation.

The 45-year-old Demons premiership coach looks as fit as any of his players, with his arms likely the envy of most 20 year olds, never mind people his own age.

Kingsley’s impressive physique came under more attention after he was unveiled as the GWS coach on Monday.

He has been an assistant at Richmond since 2019 and was a key part of the coaching group during their premierships that year and in 2020. 

The new Giants coach expects to draw heavily on what he has learned in four years at the Tigers under coach Damien Hardwick and the game style that has them chasing a fourth flag in six seasons. 

Kingsley is the third coach in the history of the Giants but will continue working as an assistant at the Tigers through their finals campaign, which starts with an elimination final against Brisbane.