Performance Program
The performance squad is made up of the Under 19/21, Under 23, and the Senior A Programs. There is a graded and periodised training programme for all squads, and it is monitored with consistent and detailed sports science support and data analysis. This squad is for our members with national team aspirations, and membership brings with it an expectation of work ethic and commitment to performance and progression.
Each squad has a designated highly experienced coach responsible for providing pathway assessments, selection guidance and athlete mentoring. Athletes are assessed in a variety of boat classes; priority is given to establishing the small boat proficiency selection requirements for national team progression.
Our focus is on providing each national team aspirant with the tools required to navigate the selection process and events whilst measuring athletes against national selection benchmarks providing clear progression data measurements.
These programs are supervised by our professional coaching team led by Scott Rowe. To learn more about the Mercantile Performance Squad, please contact Scott at: headcoach@mercantile.org.au.
Performance Structure and Personnel
Performance Director – Tom Courtney
The Performance Director has overall responsibility of the performance elements of the Club and is a member of the Club's Executive Committee. The Head Coach reports to the Performance Director. We are fortunate to Have Tom Courtney in this role. Tom is an experienced coach and program director in both Australia and the UK. His sage advice and experience are appreciated.
Rowing Director – Noel Donaldson
A distinguished coach is appointed to provide our performance team with advice and feedback. Noel Donaldson, one the world’s great coaches undertakes this role. Noel has experience at all levels having been a multi Olympic gold medal coach in both Australia and New Zealand as well as a club and school coach. He has also run rowing programs from national level to school level.
Head Coach – Scott Rowe
The Head Coach is responsible for the delivery of the performance coaching and athlete development at the Club both personally and through his/her coaching team. The performance coaching team report to the Head Coach.
Scott brings to Mercantile a strong reputation and a history of success in developing athletes and building programs. For the past several years, he has been the Head Coach at KAND Rowing Club in Queensland and the Head Coach of Rowing at Walford School in Adelaide, where he has been a driving force behind the growth and success of both programs.
Scott's coaching philosophy is centred on building strong fundamentals and a disciplined training environment. His dedication at KAND Rowing Club saw the club grow from its beginnings into a successful program with numerous athletes earning spots on Australian senior and underage teams. This track record demonstrates his keen eye for talent and his ability to nurture it from the junior level to national representation.
Scott’s favourite quote “The day you plant the tree is not the day you eat the fruit!”
Working under Head Coach Scott Rowe are 2 full-time development coaches; Rhett Spiller and Ed Ryan together with Performance Coaches Will Ackerman and David Colvin.
Development Coaches – Rhett Spiller and Ed Ryan
The club employs two full-time development coaches who look after the development of our underage rowers, specifically the under 19 and under 21 teams.
Rhett brings a wealth of knowledge from over 20 years of experience within the sport as both an athlete and a coach. Starting his coaching career with Essendon Rowing Club, he re-created the high-performance squad to create a strong lightweight program that has had 4 state representatives over a 2-year span.
His philosophy to coaching and rowing is you get out what you put in. If you are willing to put in the effort and make it hurt sometimes, you’ll reap the rewards and enjoy your time in the sport more. It will be a fun but focused environment for the rowers to grow and move on to their next step in the sport when working with Rhett and the results will speak for themselves.
Ed Ryan is the Men’s Youth Development Coach at Mercantile Rowing Club, leading the club's Under 19 and Under 21 men's program.
Prior to joining Mercantile, Ed coached at Xavier College, where he helped guide the program through its most successful period in more than 20 years. During his time there, Xavier's Second VIII won the 2023 Head of the River and finished second in 2024, consistently competing at the highest level of school rowing.
Ed believes great crews are built through daily standards rather than moments of excellence. His coaching places a strong emphasis on technical development, aerobic conditioning and creating an environment where athletes challenge one another.
Having built his coaching career around developing young athletes, Ed is passionate about helping rowers make the transition from school rowing into high-performance club rowing. At Mercantile, he works closely with athletes to prepare them for success at state level, with a focus on long-term development, technical excellence and a strong training culture.
Other performance coaches – Will Ackerman and David ‘Chippa’ Colvin
Quite apart from Will's rowing prowess, Will has established himself as an excellent coach at school level and is now moving into club and national coaching. Having been the 1st VIII coach at Firbank over the last 3 years he has enjoyed strong results and most recently, he coached the Mercantile Under 19 Women’s Pair to a bronze medal at 2026 World Under 19 Championships.
David "Chipper" Colvin currently serves as Operations Manager and coach at Mercantile Rowing Club, bringing a wealth of experience to coaching, stemming from a distinguished career in coxing that spans over 20 years. While he spent most of his coaching tenure focusing on the women's program, David also dedicated seasons to coaching lightweight & Under 21 men.
Drawing from his extensive background, David's coaching philosophy revolves around honing athletes' intuition for optimal boat performance. He believes that understanding the nuances of rowing mechanics is essential, but it's the ability to convey this knowledge that truly enhances an athlete's feel for the water.
David's keen interest lies in each athlete's unique setup within their boat, recognizing its pivotal role in unlocking their full potential. He emphasizes the importance of individualized attention to ensure athletes can maximize their performance.
Reflecting on his Olympic journey leading up to the Sydney 2000 Games, David understands the significance of the post-Olympic season as a time ripe with opportunities. Having coxed the 1992 Olympic M8+, he achieved two World Championship medals, and triumphed in prestigious races such as the Grand Challenge Cup at Henley Royal Regatta (1997) and the Kings Cup (1985-2000). His coaching accolades extend to guiding 15 Victorian State teams, including multiple victories in the Queen's Cup and coaching the 2006 Victoria Cup-winning crew, which went under the then world best time. David's passion for coaching is fueled by the drive of motivated athletes, making every season an exciting journey towards excellence.
Chipper's favourite quote: "As coaches, we are motivated by motivated people."
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